These findings have important implications for the design of preventative nutritional strategies aimed at delaying cognitive decline in the elderly. In an accompanying editorial, Smith discusses findings in previous studies that both vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease are associated with high levels of tHcy, which may have a neurotoxic effect. He suggests that clinical trials should be developed with the aim of lowering tHcy in the elderly by administration of folic acid or vitamin B-12, which may lower tHcy and prevent those with mild cognitive impairment from developing Alzheimer disease.

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Contact: Sharon Lovejoy
sllovejoy@ucdavis.edu
530-752-8363
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
25-Apr-2002