Homocysteine is an amino acid produced by the body. Parkinson's patients are particularly at risk for high homocysteine levels because the metabolism of levodopa, a drug commonly used to treat the disease, produces the amino acid.
New research has shown that patients with Parkinson’s disease who have high levels of homocysteine are more likely to be depressed and have worse cognitive functioning than other patients who have normal levels.
Thus researchers say that their findings indicate that disease burden in PD patients, such as poor motor performance, depression, and cognitive deterioration, is associated with a high [homocysteine] level.Elevated homocysteine levels can usually be lowered by vitamin supplements.
