Low Folate and the Risk of Cognitive and Functional Deficits in the Very Old

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Low Folate and the Risk of Cognitive and Functional Deficits in the

Very Old

Keywords: AGING, COGNITIVE DECLINE, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE -

Folate, Vitamin B12

Reference: " Low folate and the risk of cognitive and functional

deficits in the very old: the Monzino 80-plus study, " Tettamanti M,

Garri MT, et al, J Am Coll Nutr, 2006; 25(6): 502-8. (Address:

Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, Istituto di Ricerche

Farmacologiche " Negri " , Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milano, Italy. E-

mail: lucca@... ).

Summary: In a cross-sectional study involving 471 participants

from the Monzino 80-plus study (mean age, 87.4 years), a significant

positive correlation was observed between serum folate concentration

with cognitive and functional ability. Cognitive and functional

abilities were assessed based on scores from the Mini-Mental State

Examination (MMSE), the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

(IADL), and the Spontaneous Behavior Interview-basic Activities of

Daily Living (SBI-bADL). Significant positive correlations were

observed between serum folate concentrations with MMSE, IADL, and SBI-

bADL) scores. On the other hand, no significant associations were

found between serum vitamin B12 concentrations with cognitive and

functional abilities. Using multiple linear regression analyses with

several covariates, serum folate concentrations showed a highly

significant curvilinear association with both cognitive and

functional scores. Subjects in the low and middle folate tertiles

showed a significantly increased risk of dementia. Thus, the authors

of this study conclude, " Findings of this population-based study

suggest that subclinical folate deficiency may represent a risk

factor for the cognitive decline associated with aging that could

contribute to Alzheimer's disease as well as other dementia

development. "