Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences (Jun 2009)
Serum Levels of Homocysteine, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer's disease is the most common formof dementia in the elderly. Serum levels of homocysteine havebeen related to increased cortical and hippocampal atrophy.We aimed to determine the serum levels of homocysteine,folate, and vitamin B12 in patients with Alzheimer's disease.Methods: Blood levels of homocysteine and its biologicaldeterminants, folate, and vitamin B12 were measured in 51patients who were diagnosed as having Alzheimer's diseaseaccording to DSM-IV criteria and compared with the serumlevels obtained from 49 control individuals.Results: The mean serum homocysteine concentration wassignificantly higher in patients with Alzheimer's disease thanthe controls (20.4 ± 16.5 μmol/L v 14.5 ± 5 μmol/L; P= 0.02).There were no statistically significant differences between themean serum levels of vitamin B12 (P=0.6) and folate (P= 0.3)in the patients and the controls. There was no correlation betweenage and serum homocysteine concentration in bothgroups (P= 0.8).Conclusion: Serum homocysteine concentration was significantlyhigher in the patients with Alzheimer's disease. Thisbiomarker might be considered as a predictor of cognitive performance.
