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

Abstract

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.

The association between serum homocysteine and depression: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies

“…All studies were published from 2000 to 2020. Overall, in this meta‐analysis, 46 studies, 17,22‐66 which enrolled a total of 34 873 participants (mean age = 56.5 years), were included.…”

Association of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Gene Polymorphisms with Mild Cognitive Impairment Susceptibility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…A total of 538 potentially relevant studies were retrieved from the four databases. After 185 duplicates and 318 studies according to titles and abstracts were eliminated, the full texts of 35 articles were examined in detail; only eight papers [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] met all inclusion criteria, including four English [36][37][38][39] and four Chinese [40][41][42][43] articles. The detailed search process is illustrated in Figure 1.…”