title: The homocysteine hypothesis of depression.
abstract: High levels of homocysteine are associated with cerebrovascular disease, monoamine neurotransmitters, and depression of mood. A plausible hypothesis for these associations is that high homocysteine levels cause cerebral vascular disease and neurotransmitter deficiency, which cause depression of mood. The homocysteine depression hypothesis, if true, would mandate inclusions of imaging studies for cerebrovascular disease and measures of homocysteine, folate, and B12 and B6 vitamins in the clinical evaluation of older depressed patients. Longitudinal studies and clinical trials should be designed to challenge the hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: FRiedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA. mfolstein@rcn.com
authors.forename: Marshal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folstein
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buell
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buel
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Wendy W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12