Teunissen C E, van Boxtel M P J, Bosma H, Jolles J, Lütjohann D, von Bergmann K, Wauters A, Bosmans E, Maes M, Delanghe J, De Bruijn C, Steinbusch H W M, Blom H J, de Vente J
European Graduate School of Neuroscience (Euron), Universiteit Maastricht, Vakgroep Psychiatrie en Neuropsychologie.
Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 2003 Feb;34(1):6-12.
Little is known of the biochemical processes of cognitive decline during 'healthy' aging. Biological markers in body fluids, such as blood, could provide insight in those processes. In the present studies serum concentrations of different markers have been correlated to cognitive functioning of cognitively healthy aging individuals over a period of six years (mean age 57 years, SD 11, n = 93). Markers were related to mechanisms known to be involved in Alzheimer's disease, including inflammation, cholesterol homeostasis and homocysteine homeostasis. Domains of cognitive function addressed were cognitive speed (Letter-Digit Coding test), attention and information processing (Stroop test), and memory (Word Learning test: Total Words and Delayed Recall). Baseline concentrations of haptoglobine, homocysteine, lathosterol and lanosterol were negatively correlated with cognitive functioning on the Stroop test over the whole follow-up period of six years. Concentrations of all markers, i.e. haptoglobine, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, lathosterol and lanosterol, were also negatively correlated with functioning on the Word Learning test (Delayed Recall and for some markers also with the Total Words) over the whole six-years follow-up period. In conclusion, concentrations of serum markers related to inflammation, homocysteine and cholesterol homeostasis are not only associated with Alzheimer's disease, but also with cognitive functioning in the cognitively healthy aging population.
对于“健康”衰老过程中认知能力下降的生化过程，我们了解甚少。体液（如血液）中的生物标志物可以为这些过程提供线索。在本研究中，对93名认知功能正常的衰老个体（平均年龄57岁，标准差11）在六年时间里不同标志物的血清浓度与认知功能进行了相关性分析。这些标志物与已知参与阿尔茨海默病的机制相关，包括炎症、胆固醇稳态和同型半胱氨酸稳态。所涉及的认知功能领域包括认知速度（字母数字编码测试）、注意力和信息处理（斯特鲁普测试）以及记忆（单词学习测试：总单词数和延迟回忆）。在整个六年的随访期内，触珠蛋白、同型半胱氨酸、羊毛甾醇和羊毛固醇的基线浓度与斯特鲁普测试中的认知功能呈负相关。在整个六年的随访期内，所有标志物（即触珠蛋白、C反应蛋白、同型半胱氨酸、羊毛甾醇和羊毛固醇）的浓度与单词学习测试（延迟回忆，对于某些标志物还与总单词数）的功能也呈负相关。总之，与炎症、同型半胱氨酸和胆固醇稳态相关的血清标志物浓度不仅与阿尔茨海默病有关，而且与认知功能正常的衰老人群的认知功能也有关。
