Folate and Vitamin B12 Related to Cognitive Performance

Folate and vitamin B12 are associated with enhanced cognition in the elderly, according to a new study. Previous research indicates that folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 help maintain a healthy level of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with suboptimal cardiovascular health and cognition.

The study evaluated 274 subjects between 65 and 79 years of age who had normal cognition. At the beginning of the study, researchers assessed the subjects for serum levels of folate, homocysteine and holotranscobalamin, the biologically active fraction of vitamin B12. After seven years, the scientists evaluated the subjects for cognitive performance including global cognition, episodic memory, verbal expression, psychomotor speed and what researchers call executive functioning, a term for cognitive processes such as working memory, attention and problem solving.

Imbalanced homocysteine levels at the beginning of the study were associated with suboptimal cognitive performance including global cognition, episodic memory, executive functions and verbal expression. Increased levels of holotranscobalamin were associated with enhanced performance on global cognition, executive functions and psychomotor speed.

After excluding 20 subjects who had significant decline in cognition, the researchers found that imbalanced homocysteine was associated with decreased performance in episodic memory, execution functions and verbal expression. Higher holotranscobalamin levels were associated with enhanced performance in executive functions and psychomotor speed. Higher serum folate levels were significantly related to enhanced performance on tests for global cognition and verbal expression.

The researchers concluded that folate, homocysteine and holotranscobalamin are related to cognitive performance in the elderly.

Reference:

Hooshmand B, Solomon A, Kareholt I, Rusanen M, Hanninen T, Leiviska J, Winblad B, Laatikainen T, Soininen H, Kivipelto M. Serum homocysteine, holotranscobalamin, folate and cognition in the elderly: a longitudinal study. J Intern Med. 2011 Nov 12. Published Online Ahead of Print.