homocysteine
Type: molecule Aliases: homocysteine levelselevated homocysteineplasma homocysteine
- Systems Analogy An amino acid byproduct that can irritate blood vessels when recycling vitamins run low.
- Formal Definition A sulfur-containing amino acid intermediary in folate and vitamin B12 dependent methionine metabolism, whose accumulation is associated with neurotoxicity, blood-brain barrier leakage, and cognitive decline.
Mentioned In
- Biological CircuitsDHA Target Engagement & Cognition in Dementia Risk
Scientific Sources & Literature Citations
- [1] Empirical Study Smith AD, Refsum H, et al. Homocysteine and Dementia: An International Consensus Statement. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;62(2):561-570. ↗
"High plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cognitive decline and brain atrophy."