Markers of vitamin B12 status in relation to CSF biomarkers and cognitive performance.

Background: The association between markers of vitamin B12 status and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's type dementia which precede cognitive impairment has been investigated by only a few small studies and the results have been inconsistent. Method: Data included 462 patients aged 40‐94 years referred to the Memory Clinic at the Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany between December 2009 and August 2015. Vitamin B12 and HoloTC were measured via chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay, tHcy via chemiluminescence immunoassay and MMA via liquid chromatography mass specterometry. High performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for measuring vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 whereas electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used tomeasure folate. CSF Aβ42 and total tau were measured using conventional methods. CERAD battery was used to examine the cognitive status, and different domains were derived. Regression models were used to investigate the associations. Result: After adjusting for age, sex, creatinine levels and APOEε4 status, higher values of vitamin B12 and lower values of MMA were associated with lower concentrations of CSF total‐tau: the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CI)) in a binary logistic regression analysis investigating the associations with total tau cut‐off of 400 pg/ml were 0.39 (0.15 ‐ 0.99) and 5.60 (1.93 ‐ 16.26) for the highest quartile of B12 and MMA compared to the lowest, respectively. In addition, vitamin B1 was significantly associated with t‐tau status. Furthermore, HoloTC, MMA, tHcy, vitamin B1, and vitamin B6 were associated with several cognitive domains such as episodic memory and executive functioning. No relationships were found with Aβ42. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 and vitamin B1 may be independent predictors of CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive status. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the importance of supplementing with these vitamins on slowing structural brain changes and cognitive decline in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]