Homocysteine, Cobalamin and Folate Status and their Relations to Neurocognitive and Psychological Markers in Elderly in Northeastern of Iran

      Objective(s): Incidence of neurocognitive and psychological disorders may be related to serum homocystein (Hcy), cobalamin (vitamin B۱۲ ) and folate levels in old people. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between Hcy, cobalamin, folate and neurocognitive and/or psychological disorders in the elderly.   Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۲۸۰ subjects with ≥ ۶۵ years old, were evaluated. The subjects were selected from ۱۲ regions of Mashhad, Iran, over March to October ۲۰۰۹. After blood sampling, data were collected by questionnaire, face to face interview and performing neurocognitive and psychological tests. The sera of ۲۵۰ persons were analyzed for cobalamin and folate by RIA method. Amongst the aforementioned samples, ۷۸ cases with cobalamin Results: Amongst the people, ۱۲۶ (۴۵%) were male and ۱۵۴ (۵۵%) were female. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was ۵۹.۵% and ۳۷.۱% in male and female respectively (P -value =۰.۰۴۹). Hcy inversely correlated to cobalamin (r=-۰.۲۸۲, P=۰.۰۱۴) and to folate (r=-۰.۲۰۳, P=۰.۰۱۴). Hcy, cobalamin and folate correlations to neurocognitive and psychological impairments were not statically significant. Conclusion: Hyper Hcy or low cobalamin and folate in the elderly, are prevalent but their relationships with neurocognitive and psychological impairments is controversial. If these relationships had been confirmed, performing a single serum Hcy or cobalamin test would have been enough to diagnose and prevent neurocognitive impairments and inversely, neurocognitive-psychological sign and symptoms could have meant probable tissue vitamin deficiencies. However methods of assessing neurocognitive and psychological markers with validity and reliability of clinical and laboratory tests for finding aforementioned relationships should be revised.  

Keywords:

Cobalamin Folate Homocystein , Psychological Neurocognitive The elderly