Plasma homocysteine in 80-year-olds: Relationships to medical, psychological and social variables

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 215 - 226
• Main Authors: Jensen, E, Dehlin, O, Erfurth, E.-M, Hagberg, B, Samuelsson, G, Svensson, T, Hultberg, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.1998
• Subjects: Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap; Elderly; Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning; Gerontology, specializing in Medical and Health Sciences; Homocysteine; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Other Medical Sciences; Psychology; Quality of life; Symptoms; Homocysteine; Elderly; Psychology; Symptoms; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-4943(98)00004-1

Plasma homocysteine concentrations in a group of 80-year-old persons were related to symptoms and signs. Plasma homocysteine concentrations higher than 15 μmol/l were associated with lower total life satisfaction ( P<0.01), mood ( P<0.05), zest for life ( P<0.05), lower scores for reasoning ( P<0.05), spatial ability ( P<0.05), memory recognition ( P<0.05), and subjective health ( P<0.01). In an instrument comprising of 30 symptoms, plasma homocysteine concentrations higher than 15 μmol/l were associated with impaired concentration ( P<0.05), restlessness ( P<0.05), feeling cold ( P<0.05), loss of weight ( P<0.05), and feeling depressed ( P<0.01). The above data indicate that plasma homocysteine values over 15 μmol/l could be relevant markers for clinical intervention.