Impact of hs‐CRP concentration on brain structure alterations and cognitive trajectory in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThis study investigated hs‐CRP concentration, brain structural alterations, and cognitive function in the context of AD (subjective cognitive decline [SCD], mild cognitive impairment [MCI], and AD).MethodWe retrospectively included 313 patients (mean age = 76.40 years; 59 with SCD, 101 with MCI, and 153 with AD) for a cross‐sectional analysis and 91 patients (mean age = 75.83 years; 12 with SCD, 43 with MCI, 36 with AD) in the longitudinal analysis. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between hs‐CRP concentration, brain structural alterations, and cognitive function.ResultIn patients with SCD, hs‐CRP was inversely associated with gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the left supramarginal gyrus (pFDR = 0.044, 𝛽 = ‐0.22), and positively associated with GMVs in left lateral occipital gyrus (pFDR = 0.009, 𝛽 = 0.34) and left rostral middle frontal gyrus (pFDR = 0.038, 𝛽 = 0.29). In patients with AD, hs‐CRP was positively associated with GMVs in the left fusiform gyrus (pFDR = 0.017, 𝛽 = 0.22) and left inferior temporal gyrus (pFDR = 0.043, 𝛽 = 0.17). According to the longitudinal analysis, the interaction of diagnosis and hs‐CRP was associated with annual cognitive changes. Among these patients with AD, lower baseline hs‐CRP was correlated with greater future cognitive decline (r = ‐0.41, p = 0.0127).ConclusionOur study suggest that hs‐CRP may differentially affect the neuropathology of different stages of AD. For patients diagnosed with AD, elevated CRP level may be protective on brain structure alterations and future cognitive changes.