High Levels Of Homocysteine Linked To Alzheimer’s And Dementia

Lewis Katz School of Medicine researchers suggest B-complex vitamins play important roles when it comes to controlling homocysteine, and have published findings from the study in Molecular Psychiatry determining elevated levels of homocysteine can result in Alzheimer’s disease along with other forms of dementia.

In this study mice were fed diets lacking in vitamin B6, B9, and B12 for 8 months; then the animals were tested in a water maze test to gauge their memory and earning. The animals were observed to have trouble learning new tasks and ability to remember it as compared to the control animals.

The brains of the vitamin B deficient mice had elevated levels of homocysteine and tau. Tau is a protein that damages or destroys brain nerve cells/neurons, and can disrupt synapses which are junctions that allow neuronal communication. The deprived animals also had 50% increase in neurofibrillary tau tangles in the cortex and hippocampus which are both necessary for memory and learning. Tau tangles are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and are the main factors of cell death, dementia, and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Researchers discovered the data linked to formation of tau tangles during the study, sharing one of the changes caused by high levels of homocysteine was elevated levels of 5-lipoxygenase which is a pro-inflammatory chemical that causes tau tangles. Additional investigations will help to determine whether thwarting 5LO production will prevent or reverse brain damage linked to elevated homocysteine levels.

High homocysteine levels were previously associated with amyloid beta plaques which are also linked to Alzheimer’s disease, but until the findings from the Lewis Katz study connections with tau tangles remained unknown explains Domenico Pratico.

Homocysteine is a non-protein amino acid found naturally in the body that is a byproduct of the metabolism of methionine amino acid. Hyperhomocysteinemia is the term for high levels of homocysteine, the disease can also occur due to deficiencies of B vitamins and folic acid, stress, and improper diet.

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been revealed to be linked to 42% increased risk of the narrowing of carotid arteries. Individuals with elevated homocysteine who have had a heart attack are at 30% increased risk of suffering another adverse event or even death. High homocysteine levels can also double chances of developing dementia. Levels that are below 10 micromoles per liter are said to be healthy, while 7-8 umol/L is optimal. A simple blood test performed by a healthcare professional can check for homocysteine levels.

To best way help prevent vitamin B-complex deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia is to follow a healthy well balanced diet which includes consuming foods rich in B vitamins and folic acid such as green vegetables, beans, avocados, beets, and wheat germ. B complex vitamin supplements can also help, it is suggested to talk with a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.