Serum folate and B12 levels in association with cognitive impairment among seniors: results from the VELESTINO study in Greece and meta-analysis.
Michelakos, Theodoros;
Kousoulis, Antonis A;
Katsiardanis, Konstantinos;
Dessypris, Nick;
Anastasiou, Anastasia;
Katsiardani, Kalliopi-Penelopi;
Kanavidis, Prodromos;
Stefanadis, Christodoulos;
Papadopoulos, Fotios C;
Petridou, Eleni Th;
(2013)
Serum folate and B12 levels in association with cognitive impairment among seniors: results from the VELESTINO study in Greece and meta-analysis.
Journal of aging and health, 25 (4).
pp. 589-616.
ISSN 0898-2643
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313482488
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize existing evidence on the effect of serum folate and vitamin B12 levels on cognitive impairment among elders via a meta-analysis, also including unpublished data from a cross-sectional study of seniors ( > 65 years) residing in Velestino, Greece. METHOD: Serum measurements and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessments were available for 593 Velestinians. In addition, 12 studies availing data on folate blood levels (N = 9,747) and 9 on B12 (N = 8,122) were identified following a search algorithm; pooled effect estimates were derived. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24) among Velestenians was associated with lower education level in both genders; decreased social activity, depressive symptoms and low folate levels in males; older age in females. Meta-analyses showed an adverse effect of low-folate levels on cognition (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.40-1.96); B12 was nonsignificantly associated (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.88-1.40). DISCUSSION: Low folate levels are associated with cognitive impairment of seniors; underlying pathophysiological mechanisms should be further explored.
