Alzheimer's and Dementia

The later years

After 80 years of age, 20% of people develop dementia, the most common form being Alzheimer’s disease. As homocysteine levels increase, DNA within the brain is attacked by oxygen, damaged and eventually killed off, with the body less able to repair damaged brain cells. Over time memory loss increases as more and more cells die.

At a recent conference on homocysteine, key findings relating elevated homocysteine to dementia were presented. Data taken from the Framingham Study found a homocysteine level of >10µmol/L increased the risk of dementia in individuals over 60 years old by 75%. Furthermore, a homocysteine level of over 14µmol/L amplified the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 150%.