title: Homocysteine, trace elements and oxidant/antioxidant status in mild cognitively impaired elderly persons: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), so identification of the related risk factors can be helpful. There are controversial data regarding the serum oxidant/antioxidant status, trace elements and homocysteine (Hcy) as effective parameters in this disease, therefore the status of these factors was determined in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred-twenty elderly persons with cognitive impairment and 120 elderly healthy persons who were differentiated using Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) participated in this study. The patients were divided into mild and moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment group. Serum antioxidant/oxidant, copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and Hcy concentrations were measured using routine methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxidant and antioxidant levels increased and decreased based on the severity of the disease and were higher and lower in patients than in control group, respectively (p<0.001). With adjusting for age, gender and education, significant difference in Hcy levels was not observed. There was no significant difference in trace elements levels among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results confirmed the association between oxidative damage with increasing the severity of cognitive impairment. These factors may be involved in the etiology of cognitive impairment and AD. Identification of such biomarkers is important to select appropriate treatment goals before the onset of irreversible clinical signs.
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Negahdar
authors.forename: Seyed Reza
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parsian
authors.forename: Farzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kheirkhah
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosapour
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khafri
authors.forename: Asefeh Hagh
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Haghighi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014131:Trace Elements; D006710:Homocysteine