Nutr Res Pract.  2009 Mar;3(1):43-48.

Folate nutrition is related to neuropsychological functions in the elderly

• Chang N
• Kim E
• Kim KN
• Kim H
• Kim SY
• Jeong BS

Abstract

We investigated the nutritional state of B vitamins and the neuropsychological functions in 25 subjects, aged 63.1 +/- 6.3 years, residing in rural areas of Korea. Nutritional states of thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine were assessed enzymatically in the erythrocytes, and folate concentrations were measured microbiologically in the plasma and erythrocytes. A battery of composite neuropsychological test was administered to the subjects. Plasma folate was correlated with the total intelligence score (p=0.049). Folate levels in the erythrocytes were correlated with the performance intelligence scores such as block design (p=0.017) and picture arrangement (p=0.016). The red cell folate was correlated with memory scores such as general memory (p=0.009) and delayed recall (p=0.000). Although it did not reach statistical significance, verbal memory (p=0.053) was highly correlated with the red cell folate. The red cell folate was also correlated positively with the percent of conceptual level response number score (p=0.029), and negatively with the grooved pegboard test score for the non-dominant hand (p=0.010). Fine motor coordination was also influenced by folate nutrition, as finger tapping scores in both hands were significantly correlated with red cell folate (dominant hand; p=0.026, non-dominant hand; p=0.004). Other B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 were not as strongly correlated with neuropsychological function test scores as folate was. These results suggest that folate nutrition influences neuropsychological function test scores significantly in humans. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between folate or other vitamin B nutrition and neuropsychological functions and the implications thereof.

Keyword

Folate; B vitamins; neuropsychological function; elderly

MeSH Terms

Aged
Erythrocytes
Fingers
Folic Acid
Hand
Humans
Intelligence
Korea
Memory
Neuropsychological Tests
Plasma
Pyridoxine
Riboflavin
Vitamin B 6
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamins
Folic Acid
Pyridoxine
Riboflavin
Vitamin B 6
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamins

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