Mitochondrial dysfunction-related metabolite methylmalonic acid is associated with decreased cognitive performance.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Methylmalonic acid (MMA), a mitochondrial metabolite derived from propionate metabolism, has been implicated in fatal neurodegeneration in children with congenital methylmalonic acidemia. However, its clinical relevance in chronic cognitive decline remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the association between MMA levels, its metabolic coenzyme vitamin B12, and cognitive impairment in an elderly population.

Patients and methods

The cohort comprised 2,762 participants aged 60 and older, who underwent assessments using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Animal Fluency test (AFT), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) Immediate Recall (CERAD-IR), CERAD Delayed Recall (CERAD-DR), with low cognitive performance defin

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12533889 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature