People who have higher levels of homocysteine, a normal blood byproduct, have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published last week in the New England Medical Journal by researchers at Boston University and Tufts University.
Homocysteine is found in animal proteins and is normal in humans, according to Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a director of the study and a neurologist at BU. However, she said genetics, or a lack of vitamin B, can cause increased levels of homocysteine.
The researchers are involved with the Framingham Heart Study, which has been tracking 5,000 people for risk factors of heart disease since 1948, according to Seshadri. More recently, they also began testing for risk factors of strokes, Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, she said.
In this study, homocysteine levels were measured in 1980 when the participants were determined not to be suffering from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. The homocysteine levels were tested again every two years through 2000.
“People who had higher levels of homocysteine, more than 14 micromoles per liter of blood, had twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s as someone who had less than 14, after adjusting for other risk factors, such as age, education and high blood pressure,” Seshadri said.
Previous studies were inconclusive in finding whether elevated levels indicate a risk factor for the disease or if they were developed after the disease as a result of poor diet, which is typical among people suffering from dementia.
“The homocysteine levels were increased many years before the Alzheimer’s began,” Seshadri said.
This study is significant because it identifies a risk factor that is controllable by the patient, as opposed to other previously identified factors, such as age and family history, according to Seshadri.
“This study is exciting because it suggests we may be able to actually do something to prevent Alzheimer’s,” she said.
While there are many benefits to taking vitamins, Seshadri said an excess of vitamin B would only be harmful if the person is affected by pernicious anemia, a rare disease. She said the effects of the vitamin aren’t yet fully proven.
“B vitamins are fairly harmless,” Seshadri said. “It doesn’t hurt, but we don’t really have scientific evidence that taking vitamins lowers your risk for Alzheimer’s.”
Seshadri said other clinical studies are currently underway to determine whether or not homocysteine actually causes Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and if taking vitamins will significantly lower the risk of getting the disease.
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