Homocysteine and B vitamins relate to brain volume and white-matter changes in geriatric patients with psychiatric disorders.

Objective: There is a growing literature on the relationship between low serum B-vitamins, elevated homocysteine, and cognitive impairment; however, few studies have examined radiological markers of associated neuropathology in geropsychiatry inpatients. The authors examined the relationship of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of neuropathology.

Methods: In this archival study, authors reviewed the MRIs and medical records of 34 inpatients in a geriatric psychiatry unit.