Serum homocysteine levels and cognitive functioning in euthymic bipolar patients

Homocysteine and other markers of cardiovascular risk during a manic episode in patients with bipolar disorder

“…24,25 Most studies that reported higher Hcy levels in bipolar patients were carried out during euthymia and focused on functional and cognitive deterioration. [26][27][28] To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess Hcy levels in the same patients in both states, mania and euthymia; it is also the first study to attempt to correlate Hcy with markers of CVD. Our findings show that serum Hcy levels did not change as a function of mood state in BD.…”

Do euthymic bipolar patients have normal cognitive functioning?

“…Increased serum homocysteine levels were often accompanied by a decrease in executive functioning [42 ,43 ]. As no association of homocysteine levels with cognitive performance is reported for healthy controls [42 ], homocysteine levels might be a biological marker of risk for cognitive dysfunction particularly in patients with bipolar disorder. Yet, it is important to avoid a causal interpretation of bipolar diagnosis effects on homocysteine serum levels, since homocysteine levels were not elevated compared with the control group in a recent study [42 ], and lifestyle factors are known to influence serum homocysteine levels.…”

“…As no association of homocysteine levels with cognitive performance is reported for healthy controls [42 ], homocysteine levels might be a biological marker of risk for cognitive dysfunction particularly in patients with bipolar disorder. Yet, it is important to avoid a causal interpretation of bipolar diagnosis effects on homocysteine serum levels, since homocysteine levels were not elevated compared with the control group in a recent study [42 ], and lifestyle factors are known to influence serum homocysteine levels. There were no differences in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) levels in euthymic bipolar disorder patients and controls [44], and neurocognitive function was largely unrelated to BNDF levels.…”

“…There is, however, not enough evidence to state serum homocysteine levels as an independent predictor of cognitive functioning, but serum levels tend to increase with age, male sex, polypharmacy, and especially in late-onset patients [42 ]. Increased serum homocysteine levels were often accompanied by a decrease in executive functioning [42 ,43 ].…”

Rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder and recurrent strokes secondary to high blood homocysteine

“…Hyperhomocysteinaemia was, however, not associated with depressive subtype or treatment response in one study (Fava et al, 1997). Moreover, there is conflicting evidence on the association between homocysteine levels and bipolar disorders with recent studies suggesting slightly higher homocysteine in euthymic bipolar disorder patients, particularly males displaying functional deterioration (Dias, Brissos, Cardoso, Andreazza, & Kapczinski, 2009;Levine, Sela, Osher, & Belmaker, 2005). The mechanism by which raised homocysteine may trigger mania has not been established.…”