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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the interrelations of serum vitamin B12 markers with brain volumes, cerebral infarcts, and performance in different cognitive domains in a biracial population sample cross-sectionally.
Methods: In 121 community-dwelling participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project, serum markers of vitamin B12 status were related to summary measures of neuropsychological tests of 5 cognitive domains and brain MRI measures obtained on average 4.6 years later among 121 older adults.
Results: Concentrations of all vitamin B12–related markers, but not serum vitamin B12 itself, were associated with global cognitive function and with total brain volume. Methylmalonate levels were associated with poorer episodic memory and perceptual speed, and cystathionine and 2-methylcitrate with poorer episodic and semantic memory. Homocysteine concentrations were associated with decreased total brain volume. The homocysteine-global cognition effect was modified and no longer statistically significant with adjustment for white matter volume or cerebral infarcts. The methylmalonate-global cognition effect was modified and no longer significant with adjustment for total brain volume.
Conclusions: Methylmalonate, a specific marker of B12 deficiency, may affect cognition by reducing total brain volume whereas the effect of homocysteine (nonspecific to vitamin B12 deficiency) on cognitive performance may be mediated through increased white matter hyperintensity and cerebral infarcts. Vitamin B12 status may affect the brain through multiple mechanisms.
GLOSSARY
- BMI=
- body mass index;
- CHAP=
- Chicago Health and Aging Project;
- FOV=
- field of view;
- MMA=
- methylmalonic acid;
- TBV=
- total brain volume;
- TE=
- echo time;
- TI=
- inversion time;
- TR=
- repetition time;
- WMHV=
- white matter hyperintensity volume
Footnotes
-
Study funding: Supported by the NIH/NIA (AG11101 and AG13170).
-
Supplemental data at www.neurology.org
- Received January 25, 2011.
- Accepted June 7, 2011.
- Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
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