Homocysteine, antioxidant micronutrients and late onset dementia

Lawrence J Whalley; Susan J Duthie; Andrew R Collins; John M Starr; Ian J Deary; Helen Lemmon; Ashleigh C Duthie; Alison D Murray; Roger T Staff

doi:10.1007/s00394-013-0526-6

Homocysteine, antioxidant micronutrients and late onset dementia

Lawrence J Whalley, Susan J Duthie, Andrew R Collins, John M Starr, Ian J Deary, Helen Lemmon, Ashleigh C Duthie, Alison D Murray, Roger T Staff

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18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To distinguish between contributions to dementia made by homocysteine, folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrients. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of a sample reported in 2002. Homocysteine was measured at baseline in 201 individuals born in 1921 and without dementia at age 77 years and followed up to age 88 years. Baseline macro- and micronutrient status was estimated from BMI, the MONICA food frequency questionnaire, plasma folate, B12 and, in a subgroup (N = 173), plasma antioxidant micronutrients. Time to dementia onset during follow-up was compared between participants grouped by homocysteine concentration using Cox regression. Model 1 adjusted for age, sex, childhood IQ, education, socioeconomic deprivation, presence of heart disease, hypertension, plasma folate and B12. In model 2 plasma, antioxidants were added to these covariables. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of about 5 years, there were 39 incident dementia cases among 201 participants. In model 1, being in the highest homocysteine group (>14 μmol/L) was associated with a 234 % increased risk (HR 3.34, 95 % CI 1.16-9.57) of any dementia. After inclusion of plasma antioxidants in model 2, there were 32 incident dementia cases from a subsample (N = 173). Homocysteine >14 μmol was associated with a 272 % increased dementia risk (HR = 3.72, 95 % CI 1.06-13.08). CONCLUSIONS: High homocysteine increases the risk of dementia. The association between tHcy and dementia is independent of plasma folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrient status.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	277-285
Number of pages	9
Journal	European Journal of Nutrition
Volume	53
Issue number	1
Early online date	27 Apr 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0526-6
Publication status	Published - Feb 2014

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments
The Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Research Council (UK) and Alzheimer Research UK supported this study. The authors’ contributions were as follows—Follow-up studies of the Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort were designed and supervised by LW, ID and JS. Nutritional measurements were provided by SD and AC. Clinical data, including dementia diagnoses were collected and validated by LW, AM, RS, HL and AD. Data were analysed independently by LW and JS. All authors contributed to preparation of the manuscript. The final version of this report was approved by all authors. None of the funding agencies had any involvement in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection of data; management of the study; analysis or interpretation of the data; or in the preparation, review of the manuscript. None of the authors had any competing interests and all are independent of the funding bodies. The Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort nutrition studies were supported primarily by grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (1999–2002), the Wellcome Trust (2001–2006) and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust (2006–2010).

Keywords

homocysteine
vitamin B12
folate
plasma antioxidants
dementia

Access to Document

10.1007/s00394-013-0526-6

Aberdeen Birth Cohort Study 1921 (ABC 1921)
Black, C. (Owner) & Clark, H. (Data Manager), University of Aberdeen, 2008
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/birth-cohorts/1921/
Dataset

Cite this

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title = "Homocysteine, antioxidant micronutrients and late onset dementia",

abstract = "PURPOSE: To distinguish between contributions to dementia made by homocysteine, folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrients. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of a sample reported in 2002. Homocysteine was measured at baseline in 201 individuals born in 1921 and without dementia at age 77 years and followed up to age 88 years. Baseline macro- and micronutrient status was estimated from BMI, the MONICA food frequency questionnaire, plasma folate, B12 and, in a subgroup (N = 173), plasma antioxidant micronutrients. Time to dementia onset during follow-up was compared between participants grouped by homocysteine concentration using Cox regression. Model 1 adjusted for age, sex, childhood IQ, education, socioeconomic deprivation, presence of heart disease, hypertension, plasma folate and B12. In model 2 plasma, antioxidants were added to these covariables. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of about 5 years, there were 39 incident dementia cases among 201 participants. In model 1, being in the highest homocysteine group (>14 μmol/L) was associated with a 234 % increased risk (HR 3.34, 95 % CI 1.16-9.57) of any dementia. After inclusion of plasma antioxidants in model 2, there were 32 incident dementia cases from a subsample (N = 173). Homocysteine >14 μmol was associated with a 272 % increased dementia risk (HR = 3.72, 95 % CI 1.06-13.08). CONCLUSIONS: High homocysteine increases the risk of dementia. The association between tHcy and dementia is independent of plasma folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrient status.",

keywords = "homocysteine , vitamin B12, folate, plasma antioxidants, dementia",

author = "Whalley, {Lawrence J} and Duthie, {Susan J} and Collins, {Andrew R} and Starr, {John M} and Deary, {Ian J} and Helen Lemmon and Duthie, {Ashleigh C} and Murray, {Alison D} and Staff, {Roger T}",

note = "Acknowledgments The Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Research Council (UK) and Alzheimer Research UK supported this study. The authors{\textquoteright} contributions were as follows—Follow-up studies of the Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort were designed and supervised by LW, ID and JS. Nutritional measurements were provided by SD and AC. Clinical data, including dementia diagnoses were collected and validated by LW, AM, RS, HL and AD. Data were analysed independently by LW and JS. All authors contributed to preparation of the manuscript. The final version of this report was approved by all authors. None of the funding agencies had any involvement in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection of data; management of the study; analysis or interpretation of the data; or in the preparation, review of the manuscript. None of the authors had any competing interests and all are independent of the funding bodies. The Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort nutrition studies were supported primarily by grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (1999–2002), the Wellcome Trust (2001–2006) and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust (2006–2010).",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1007/s00394-013-0526-6",

language = "English",

volume = "53",

pages = "277--285",

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T1 - Homocysteine, antioxidant micronutrients and late onset dementia

AU - Whalley, Lawrence J

AU - Duthie, Susan J

AU - Collins, Andrew R

AU - Starr, John M

AU - Deary, Ian J

AU - Lemmon, Helen

AU - Duthie, Ashleigh C

AU - Murray, Alison D

AU - Staff, Roger T

N1 - Acknowledgments The Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Research Council (UK) and Alzheimer Research UK supported this study. The authors’ contributions were as follows—Follow-up studies of the Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort were designed and supervised by LW, ID and JS. Nutritional measurements were provided by SD and AC. Clinical data, including dementia diagnoses were collected and validated by LW, AM, RS, HL and AD. Data were analysed independently by LW and JS. All authors contributed to preparation of the manuscript. The final version of this report was approved by all authors. None of the funding agencies had any involvement in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection of data; management of the study; analysis or interpretation of the data; or in the preparation, review of the manuscript. None of the authors had any competing interests and all are independent of the funding bodies. The Aberdeen 1921 Birth Cohort nutrition studies were supported primarily by grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (1999–2002), the Wellcome Trust (2001–2006) and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust (2006–2010).

PY - 2014/2

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N2 - PURPOSE: To distinguish between contributions to dementia made by homocysteine, folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrients. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of a sample reported in 2002. Homocysteine was measured at baseline in 201 individuals born in 1921 and without dementia at age 77 years and followed up to age 88 years. Baseline macro- and micronutrient status was estimated from BMI, the MONICA food frequency questionnaire, plasma folate, B12 and, in a subgroup (N = 173), plasma antioxidant micronutrients. Time to dementia onset during follow-up was compared between participants grouped by homocysteine concentration using Cox regression. Model 1 adjusted for age, sex, childhood IQ, education, socioeconomic deprivation, presence of heart disease, hypertension, plasma folate and B12. In model 2 plasma, antioxidants were added to these covariables. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of about 5 years, there were 39 incident dementia cases among 201 participants. In model 1, being in the highest homocysteine group (>14 μmol/L) was associated with a 234 % increased risk (HR 3.34, 95 % CI 1.16-9.57) of any dementia. After inclusion of plasma antioxidants in model 2, there were 32 incident dementia cases from a subsample (N = 173). Homocysteine >14 μmol was associated with a 272 % increased dementia risk (HR = 3.72, 95 % CI 1.06-13.08). CONCLUSIONS: High homocysteine increases the risk of dementia. The association between tHcy and dementia is independent of plasma folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrient status.

AB - PURPOSE: To distinguish between contributions to dementia made by homocysteine, folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrients. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of a sample reported in 2002. Homocysteine was measured at baseline in 201 individuals born in 1921 and without dementia at age 77 years and followed up to age 88 years. Baseline macro- and micronutrient status was estimated from BMI, the MONICA food frequency questionnaire, plasma folate, B12 and, in a subgroup (N = 173), plasma antioxidant micronutrients. Time to dementia onset during follow-up was compared between participants grouped by homocysteine concentration using Cox regression. Model 1 adjusted for age, sex, childhood IQ, education, socioeconomic deprivation, presence of heart disease, hypertension, plasma folate and B12. In model 2 plasma, antioxidants were added to these covariables. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of about 5 years, there were 39 incident dementia cases among 201 participants. In model 1, being in the highest homocysteine group (>14 μmol/L) was associated with a 234 % increased risk (HR 3.34, 95 % CI 1.16-9.57) of any dementia. After inclusion of plasma antioxidants in model 2, there were 32 incident dementia cases from a subsample (N = 173). Homocysteine >14 μmol was associated with a 272 % increased dementia risk (HR = 3.72, 95 % CI 1.06-13.08). CONCLUSIONS: High homocysteine increases the risk of dementia. The association between tHcy and dementia is independent of plasma folate, B12 and antioxidant micronutrient status.

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KW - vitamin B12

KW - folate

KW - plasma antioxidants

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SN - 1436-6207

VL - 53

SP - 277

EP - 285

JO - European Journal of Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Nutrition

IS - 1

ER -

Homocysteine, antioxidant micronutrients and late onset dementia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Datasets

Aberdeen Birth Cohort Study 1921 (ABC 1921)

Cite this