Micronutrients, stroke and cognition in aging

老年人生活质量的一个主要决定因素是他们的心理过程的效率。在老年人中已经注意到神经认知功能的丧失；这种丧失的严重程度从简单的记忆缺陷到阿尔茨海默氏症的严重痴呆。重要的是要发现这种功能衰退在多大程度上是可以预防和可逆的。具体到这个项目，营养因素是重要的可能性。由于对老年人微量营养素缺乏症发病率的估计相当大，干预措施可以显著减轻公共卫生负担。这项多学科研究的目的是确定在家的老年人中同型半胱氨酸升高、脑部疾病和认知能力下降的患病率。从来自特定地理区域的代表所有登记病例的7500名居家老年人中，将评估1600名老年人的队列。评估将包括饮食历史和血清营养水平，以及全面的神经心理测试。将对400名受试者进行临床检查和核磁共振扫描。认知障碍的已知风险，如确诊的抑郁、焦虑、高血压、糖尿病、房颤、药物、载脂蛋白E、饱和脂肪摄入量和MTHFR突变，将被测量并作为协变量和效果修饰物包括在分析中。

A major determinant of the quality of life for elderly individuals is the efficiency of their mental processes. Loss of neurocognitive functioning has been noted in elderly individuals; the severity of this loss ranges from simple memory deficits to profound dementia of the Alzheimer's variety. It is important to discover to what extent such functional decline is preventable and reversible. Specific to this project is the possibility that nutritional factors are important. Since estimates of the incidence of micronutrient deficiency in the elderly is quite large, intervention could significantly reduce the public health burden. The aim of this multidisciplinary study is to determine the prevalence of elevated homocysteine, brain disease, and cognitive decline in the homebound elderly. From 7500 homebound elderly, representative of all registered cases from a specified geographical area, a cohort of 1600 elders will be assessed. The assessment will include dietary history and serum nutrient levels, as well as comprehensive neuropsychological testing. Clinical examination and MRI scans will be performed on a subset of 400 subjects. Known risks for cognitive impairment such as diagnosed depression, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, medications, APOE, saturated fat intake, and mutations of MTHFR will be measured and included in analyses as covariates and effect modifiers.