[Does an association between increased homocystein levels and cognitive dysfunction also exist in multimorbid geriatric patients].
BACKGROUND
Total blood homocysteine (Hcys) and folate have been investigated in association with cognitive dysfunction (CD) in healthy but not in multimorbid elderly patients. We hypothesized that total Hcys and folate are adequate markers to identify multimorbid elderly patients with CD.


METHODS
According to the Short Performance Cognitive Test (SKT) CD was determined in a cross-sectional study with 189 (131 f/58 m) multimorbid elderly patients with a mean age of 78.6 +/- 7.3 yrs. Besides the analyses of biochemical parameters (Hcys, folate, vitamin B(12), hemogram) nutritional status (BMI, Mini Nutritional Assessment) as well as activities of daily living were assessed. Daily nutritional intake was measured with a 3-day nutrition diary. For analysis, we used the nutritional software program DGE-PC professional.


RESULTS
According to SKT 25.4% showed no cerebral cognitive dysfunction, 21.2% had a suspicion about incipient cognitive dysfunction, 12.7% showed mild, 9.0% moderate, 31.7% of patients severe cognitive deficits. Median plasma Hcys was about 20% elevated in multimorbid elderly patients independent of CD. Serum folate and vitamin B(12) levels were within range, though dietary folate intake (97 [80-128] microg/d) was reduced about 75% (recommendation 400 microg/d). Significant correlations between vitamin intake and plasma/serum levels of Hcys, folate and vitamin B(12) were not present. We did not find significant differences between SKT groups of nutritional status, activities of daily living, index of diseases, medications, or selected biochemical parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
We analysed elevated serum Hcys levels in multimorbid elderly patients with normal plasma folate and vitamin B(12) concentration and CD. Plasma Hcys or serum folate did not appear as an important biological risk factor on CD in multimorbid elderly patients.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Forschungsgruppe Geriatrie am Evangelischen Geriatriezentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
S
S
Hengstermann
A
A
Hanemann
R
R
Nieczaj
N
N
Abdollahnia
A
A
Schweter
E
E
Steinhagen-Thiessen
A
A
Lun
G
G
Lämmler
R-J
RJ
Schulz
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid