Abstract-Although the major biochemical abnormality due to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is hyperhomocyst(e)inemia, its pathogenicity appears to involve more than homocysteine toxicity. In patients with severe MTHFR deficiency, a metabolite(s) other than hyperhomocyst(e)inemia also appears to be associated with its clinical manifestation in cerebrovascular disease. To elucidate the specific role of the TT genotype of MTHFR in the development of cerebral infarction with and without cognitive impairment, we determined the prevalence of hyperhomocyst(e)inemia and the C677T genotypes of MTHFR in 143 patients with vascular dementia, 122 patients with cerebral infarction, and 217 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Prevalence of hyperhomocyst(e)inemia [homocyst(e)ine Ն15 mol/L] was higher in cerebrovascular patients with or without dementia than in normal control subjects (42.6%, 20.5%, and 10.1%, respectively; Pϭ0.001). In contrast, a higher frequency of MTHFR TT genotype was found only in demented patients compared with nondemented patients and healthy controls (25.2%, 9.8%, and 12.0%, respectively; Pϭ0.01). When the study subjects were divided into normohomocyst(e)inemic and hyperhomocyst(e)inemic groups, the TT genotype was significantly associated with the risk for vascular dementia in the hyperhomocyst(e)inemic group (odds ratio 4. Key Words: methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase Ⅲ genes Ⅲ cerebral infarction Ⅲ hyperhomocyst(e)inemia Ⅲ vascular dementia D etermination of plasma homocyst(e)ine (the total of free and protein-bound forms of homocysteine and its derivatives) became an important method in evaluating the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is understood that the severity and duration of hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is closely related to the extent and progress of occlusive vascular disease. Although severe hyperhomocyst(e)inemia (known as homocystinuria) causes thromboembolism and vascular damage in children and young adults, moderate and intermediate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is believed to be associated with occlusive vascular disease in adults. 1,2 Moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is caused by genetic or environmental factors or a combination of both factors. 1,2 The most common genetic defect is thermolabile methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), such as the homozygous C677T mutation. 3,4 This mutation causes an increased susceptibility to produce hyperhomocyst(e)inemia. However, the TT genotype of MTHFR requires an additional genetic or environmental factor for persistent hyperhomocyst(e)inemia. 2 This might explain the inconsistent results found when the association between the TT mutation of MTHFR and cerebrovascular disease was evaluated. [5][6][7] In severe hyperhomocyst(e)inemia, neurological and vascular manifestations are more pronounced despite less severe hyperhomocyst(e)inemia in patients with severe MTHFR deficiency compared with patients with severe cystathionine -synthase deficiency. 8,9 This suggests that the pathogenic feature of hyperh...