title: Association between total plasma homocysteine level and cognitive functions in elderly Egyptian subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High plasma total homocysteine has emerged as a new risk for cognitive decline with age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the association of plasma homocysteine with cognitive performance in normal aged Egyptians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty five aged Egyptians subjects were included in the study. Their cognitive performance was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination MMSE, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Total plasma homocysteine level in fasting blood samples was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant negative association was detected between plasma homocysteine level and age. A statistically highly significant inverse association was found between plasma tHcy and scores of cognitive assessment in aged subjects after adjustment for age, gender, education years and cardiovascular risk factors. No significant association was detected between total plasma homocysteine level and sex, blood sugar or lipid profile (p≥0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated tHcy level is an independent risk factor for the decline of cognitive performance in normal elderly subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allam
authors.forename: Ebtesam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: Sahar Abd
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Elatti
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abo-Krysha
authors.forename: Engy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: El-Sawy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine
keywords: Aging; Cognitive function; MCI; Normal aged Egyptians; Plasma homocysteine; Risk factor