Low folate levels in the cognitive decline of elderly patients and the efficacy of folate as a treatment for improving memory deficits

Reduction of plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonate concentrations in apparently healthy elderly subjects after treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6: a randomised trial

“…Poor folate status correlates to cognitive dysfunction (Fioravanti et al, 1997;Lehmann et al, 1999) and mental depression (Bottiglieri, 1996;Fava et al, 1997). Particularly susceptible to folate deficiency are homozygotes (5-15% of the population) for a mutation in a 5-MTHFR gene (EC 1.5.1.20, 677C-T) (Jacques et al, 1996;Molloy et al, 1997;Bailey & Gregory, 1999).…”

The Relations Between the Vitamins and Alzheimer Dementia

“…Some randomised controlled trials, including persons with normal cognitive function, cognitive impairment and dementia, evaluated the effect of folate supplementation on cognitive function. Among cognitively impaired subjects (n=30) with low folate serum levels, Fioravanti et al (Fioravanti et al, 1998) observed a significant improvement of some scores of the Randt Memory Test in the folate treated group compared with the placebo group after 60 days of treatment. In another trial using a mixed factorial design in normal subjects (n=211), the authors observed that folate-treated older women's cognitive test scores (Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test) improved (Bryan et al, 2002).…”

Effects of Folate and Vitamin B12 on Cognitive Function in Adults and the Elderly

“…Three randomized, controlled trials [4,62,63] and two single-arm intervention trials [64,65] reported data on folate supplementation and the effect on cognitive function or therapeutic benefit. Of these five studies, two were conducted among subjects with dementia, one among subjects with cognitive impairment, one among normal subjects, and one among those with Parkinson's disease.…”

“…In a randomized, controlled trial, Fioravanti et al [63] compared the effect of folate supplementation with that of placebo among cognitively impaired subjects. Cognitive function was assessed by six components of the Randt Memory Test (RMT).…”