N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide, Homocysteine and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism in Elderly Depressed and Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

作者：El Batch M****^*; Eissa Mai A; Farouk Gihan; Attia Mohamed

来源：Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 2010, 35(2): 103-111.

• N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide
• homocysteine
• methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
• cognitive impairment
• depression

Purpose: To evaluate the role of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism (TT, CT or CC) in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment or depression, and to determine the association between TT genotype and both homocysteine and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide on one-hand and depressive and cognitive scores on other-hand.
Material and Methods: This study included 60 elderly patients, subdivided into, patients with depression, patients with mild cognitive impairment, in addition to the control group. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, homocysteine, folate and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism were determined.
Results: Both N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and homocysteine were significantly increased in the patient groups as compared to the control, and were significantly positively correlated with depression scores, but significantly negatively correlated with cognitive impairment. TT genotypes had an increased risk of developing depression and had significant higher plasma level of both N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and homocysteine than CT or CC patients.
Conclusion: The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene may play a role in the modulation of mood but does not contribute to genetic susceptibility to cognitive performance in later life. It is also associated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and homocysteine levels, which may play a role in linking depression and mild cognitive impairment with increased cerebrovascular and/or cardio-vascular risk.

• 出版日期2010