Influence of CRP on cognitive function of patients with combined and isolated forms of atherosclerosis of cerebral and coronary vascular pools

Abstract

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a major health problem in the modern world in connection with the trend of increasing life expectancy and noticeable increase in the number of elderly people with CI and dementia. Therefore research aimed at finding and studying potential biomarkers predicting higher risk of developing CI and vascular dementia is a high priority. The study includes 207 patients (106 men and 101 women at the age of approximately 60 years. The main group includes 162 patients and there are 45 healthy individuals in the control group without clinical signs of atherosclerotic lesions, but with risk factors of their development. Patients with CPR level exceeding 10 mg/L were not included in the study. Patients with isolated and multifocal atherosclerosis of the coronary and cerebral pools have been compared by indicator of subclinical inflammation – CRP and assessment of neuropsychological test MMSE. The obtained results testified to the presence of inflammatory component in the pathogenesis of CI: the concentrations of CRP were significantly higher in patients with a low MMSE score (multifocal) than patients with higher scores of neuropsychological testing (isolated). Thus inflammation, potentially contributing to the atherosclerotic process is the basis of the relationship between high levels of CRP and cognitive impairment. At the early stages of the disease, with isolated forms of atherosclerotic vascular lesions of the heart and the head rise of CRP level can be considered the indicator of CI. With severing of the disease and the involvement of coronary and cerebral pools an increase the concentration of CRP follows. After that we have revealed a negative correlation of CRP with a marking score of cognitive function on a MMSE scale in these pathologies, i.e., the level of CRP can serve as a biochemical predictor of cognitive impairment. The obtained results indicate a significant role of CRP, its identification and monitoring can be the basis for the prevention and early diagnostics, it will also reduce the risk of severe CI, thereby maintaining higher quality of life of patients.