title: Plasma homocysteine levels and major depressive disorders in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main aim of this study was to examine the symptomatology of major depression in Alzheimer disease (AD) and its relationship with plasma homocysteine level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three patients with AD were enrolled for clinical assessments and examination of fasting plasma homocysteine. Diagnosis of major depression was made, and the severity of the depression was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The moderate dementia patients presented with more common behavioral disturbances related to major depression than mild dementia patients. Major depression in patients with moderate AD was associated with higher plasma homocysteine levels. Furthermore, a high plasma homocysteine level was positively associated with behavioral disturbance among study participants with major depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More behavioral disturbance associated with major depression occurred as the dementia progressed. Patients with a higher level of plasma homocysteine presented with a higher behavioral disturbance symptomatology. This finding may account for the relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and depression only in patients with moderate AD.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Yuan-Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chiou-Lian
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Cheng-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Ching-Kuan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine