From the 1986-1990 examinations through December 2000, some 111 people developed dementia, including 83 diagnosed specifically with AD. Elevated homocysteine levels (defined in this study as greater than 14 mmol/liter) doubled the chance that a participant would develop AD and each 5 mmol/liter elevation increased the risk of AD by 40 percent. The analysis showed further that people with consistently high levels of homocysteine throughout the period of the study were at highest risk for dementia and AD. The researchers also examined whether the earlier levels of homocysteine, measured between 1979 and 1982, had any relationship to the development of dementia or AD later on; this analysis, too, linked elevated levels at least 8 years prior to a later diagnosis of dementia and AD. The association between homocysteine and AD was found to be strong and independent of other factors, such as age, gender, APOE genotype, and other known or suspected risk factors for dementia and AD.

There was no direct association in this study between the serum levels of folate and vitamins B6 and B12 and the development of dementia among the participants. As the relationship between these B vitamin levels, homocysteine, AD, and cardiovascular disease continues to be studied, scientists speculate that consuming adequate amounts of B vitamins by diet or supplementation might help reduce levels of homocysteine in some individuals. Findings from the NHLBI-supported DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) study suggest that a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, low-fat dairy products, citrus fruits and juices, whole wheat bread, and dry beans can significantly lower levels of homocysteine.  (6)

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