[PHNUTR-L] Plasma folate concentration and cognitive performance: Rotterdam Scan Study

[Kathrynne Holden]

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	Higher Plasma Folate Concentrations Associated with Better Cognitive 
Performance
http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: 	"Plasma folate concentration and cognitive performance: 
Rotterdam Scan Study," de Lau LM, Breteler MMB, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 
2007; 86(3): 728-34. (Address: MMB Breteler, Department of Epidemiology 
and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR 
Rotterdam, Netherlands. E-mail: m.breteler at erasmusmc.nl ).

Summary: 	In a population-based, cross-sectional study involving 1,033 
nondemented participants aged 60-90 years, results indicate that higher 
plasma folate concentrations may be associated with better cognitive 
performance, in particular, improved psychomotor speed. The participants 
underwent extensive cognitive testing and brain imaging. Using 
multivariate linear regression adjusted for confounders, every 1 SD 
increase in plasma folate was associated with a +0.05 mean change in 
global cognitive function test scores, a +0.08 mean change in 
psychomotor speed test scores, and a +0.02 mean change in memory 
function test scores. The association between plasma folate 
concentrations and cognitive performance only slightly diminished after 
further adjusting for homocysteine concentrations. Additionally, the 
volume of subcortical white matter lesions and the presence of severe 
white matter lesions decreased significantly with increasing plasma 
folate concentration. Thus, the authors of t his study conclude, "Higher 
plasma folate concentrations are associated with better global cognitive 
function and better performance on tests of psychomotor speed, 
regardless of homocysteine concentration. These associations may be 
mediated by vascular mechanisms."
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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