Association Between Vitamin B1 and Dementia Caused by Different Etiologies in Elderly Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Lower serum Vitamin B1 has been reported to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it was rarely reported whether Vitamin B1 level was related to non-AD-derived dementia.Objective: To determine whether Vitamin B1 level is different in dementia from different etiologies, we selected AD and Vascular dementia (VaD) for research, and other dementias need to be further studied.Methods: This was a retrospective study in Wenzhou, China. 47 healthy controls (HCs) and 91 patients with dementia were enrolled. Then according to diagnostic criteria, the patients with dementia were divided into the AD group (47 cases) and VaD group (44 cases). Demographic information and clinical data were collected and recorded.Results: Vitamin B1 level showed significant differences between the HCs and the patients with dementia. Vitamin B1 (OR=0.608, P=0.040) was a protective factor of the patients of dementia. In subgroup analysis, Vitamin B1 level showed significant differences between the AD group and the VaD group. Compared with AD, Vitamin B1 level (OR=0.050, P=0.016) was lower in VaD. In addition, Vitamin B1 level was negatively correlated to Fazekas Leukoaraiosis Score. Furthermore, using Vitamin B1 to diagnose VaD from dementia, the AUC value was 0.743.Conclusion: Compared with AD, Vitamin B1 level is lower in VaD. Vitamin B1 level is different in different etiologies of dementia. Vitamin B1 may be a potential diagnostic marker and protective factor of VaD. Vitamin B1 level in patients with dementia should be well monitored, whether it is AD or not.