title: Blood folate is associated with asymptomatic or partially symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in the Nun study.
abstract: Asymptomatic and partially symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (APSYMAD) are a series of cognitive states wherein subjects have substantial Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (classification B or C by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for AD criteria), but have normal or only partially impaired cognitive function; all of these subjects are non-demented. These cognitive states may arise from the prevention or delay of clinical symptom expression by exposure to certain nutritional factors. This study examined blood levels of folate and antioxidants (i.e., carotenoids) in relation to APSYMAD, nested in the Nun study, a longitudinal study of aging and AD. Sixty elderly female subjects, who had AD on the basis of neuropathology exams, were included. Following adjustment for APOE4 status, education level, and age at blood draw, subjects with the highest blood folate levels had a higher likelihood of being in the APSYMAD group as compared to the demented (AD) group (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00-1.18. p < 0.06). This association was not significantly influenced by additional adjustment for blood concentrations of carotenoids. Restriction of the population to subjects with near normal cognition on the cognitive state score (score = 1-3) indicated an elevated association with blood folate (odds ratio = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.25, p < 0.04). Blood carotenoids were not associated with APSYMAD. Thus, folate status may influence the expression of clinical symptoms of AD disease and aid in the delay or prevention of dementia.
authors: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Huifen
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Odegaard
authors: Bharat
authors: B
authors: Thyagarajan
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Hayes
authors: Karen Santa
authors: KS
authors: Cruz
authors: Mark F
authors: MF
authors: Derosiers
authors: Suzanne L
authors: SL
authors: Tyas
authors: Myron D
authors: MD
authors: Gross
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002410:Catholicism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D002338:Carotenoids; D005492:Folic Acid