PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE IN 80-YEAR-OLDS - RELATIONSHIPS TO MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL VARIABLES

Plasma homocysteine concentrations in a group of 80-year-old persons w ere related to symptoms and signs. Plasma homocysteine concentrations higher than 15 mu umol/l were associated with lower total life satisfa ction (P < 0.01), mood (P < 0.05), zest for life (P < 0.05), lower sco res for reasoning (P < 0.05), spatial ability (P < 0.05), memory recog nition (P < 0.05), and subjective health (P < 0.01). In an instrument comprising of 30 symptoms, plasma homocysteine concentrations higher t han 15 mu mol/l were associated with impaired concentration (P<0.05), restlessness (P<0.05), feeling cold (P<0.05), loss of weight (P < 0.05 ), and feeling depressed (P < 0.OI). The above data indicate that plas ma homocysteine values over 15 mu mol/l could be relevant markers for clinical intervention. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland-Ltd. All righ ts reserved.