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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124799
Title: HOMOCYSTEINE AND B VITAMINS RELATE TO COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN HISPANIC AND NHW ELDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS

Author
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - HNRCA
item KWAN, LAURINDA - HNRCA
item SCOTT, TAMMY - NEMC
item BERMUDEZ, ODILIA - HNRCA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2001
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: TUCKER, K.L., KWAN, L.L., SCOTT, T.M., BERMUDEZ, O.I. HOMOCYSTEINE AND B VITAMINS RELATE TO COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN HISPANIC AND NHW ELDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. MEETING ABSTRACT. 2001;Program Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Despite some evidence that homocysteine may contribute to cognitive decline, few studies have examined this directly. We examined a sample of Hispanics in Massachusetts, aged 60 yrs+, and a neighborhood control group of non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Plasma was available for assessment of vitamin and homocysteine concentrations for 418 Puerto Ricans and Dominicans and 136 NHW. Dietary data were collected by food frequency questionnaire, adapted for this population. Cognitive function was assessed with the Babcock story recall and, on a subset (n=220 Hispanics, 63 NHWs), with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive measures were regressed onto individual blood values and intakes, adjusted for age and sex. Hispanics were significantly more likely to have low folate and B12 concentrations (p<0.05), but did not differ significantly from NHWs in B6 or homocysteine: B12, %<185 picomole/L=17.2 vs.10.7; folate %<3 nanogram/mL=10.1 vs.3.8; B6 %<20 nanomole/L=11.2 vs.16.5; and homocysteine %>14 micromole/L=20.6 vs.17.5. Of those with MMSE, 53% of Hispanics and 15% of NHW had values <23. Among Hispanics, ability to recall story ideas was significantly associated with plasma folate and B6 and with intake of each of the B vitamins (p<0.05). Among NHWs, story score was negatively associated with homocysteine and positively with folate intake (p<0.05), and approached significance (p<0.1) for plasma B6 and folate concentrations. Associations with MMSE approached significance (p<0.1) only for plasma B6, among NHWs. These results support the hypothesis that B vitamins and/or homocysteine contribute to cognitive decline, but further work is needed to clarify these effects.