Serum Cholinesterase Activity in Elderly Female Patients with Different Screening Cognitive Status and Frailty Assessment Scores

Introduction. Frailty and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are common geriatric syndromes. Peripheral serum cholinesterase (pChE) is a laboratory indicator that may reflect dysfunction of cholinergic processes in the central nervous system. Published data demonstrate the potential utility of pChE as a marker for a range of neurodegenerative disorders. Aim. This study aimed to identify and investigate the relationship between serum pChE levels in patients and various screening scores of cognitive status, frailty, and metabolic parameters. Materials and methods. The study included 50 women aged over 60 years. Screening clinical examinations were conducted, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Age Is Not a Hindrance questionnaire, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. A blood chemistry analysis was performed, including a kinetic colorimetric assay of serum pChE. Results. The Age Is Not a Hindrance score and pChE activity exhibited a moderate inverse correlation with a Spearman coefficient (rS) of –0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.5 to –0.03; p 0.05. The MoCA scores and pChE levels also showed a moderate inverse correlation with rS of –0.32; 95% CI: –0.55 to –0.05, p 0.05. A high risk of MCI is defined by a pChE activity threshold point of 9978 U/L, with a sensitivity of 47% and a specificity of 97%. The association between pChE activity and the prevalence of cognitive impairment remained significant even when different socio-demographic and metabolic parameters were included in the regression model, odds ratio (OR) 1.0005; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.009; p = 0.01). Conclusion. Women over 60 years of age in an outpatient setting exhibited an inverse correlation between the Age Is Not a Hindrance questionnaire score and the pChE activity. A pChE activity of 9978 U/L or higher was associated with an elevated risk of concomitant mild cognitive impairment. However, it is important to consider the high probability of false negatives in this context. This association persisted across a variety of clinical and metabolic factors.