Abstract
Cognitive decline in late adulthood might be partially mediated by subclinical generalized vascular disease. If so, atherogenic factors such as pro-inflammatory cytokines might be mid-life targets for prevention or treatment. Dallas Heart Study subjects (n = 997; mean age = 42.94 ± 10.2 yrs) underwent blood assays of pro-inflammatory biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis and 8 years later completed a cognitive outcome measure, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Markers included C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase (LP-PLA2), and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP-1), with Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) as a potential modifier. We found weak evidence for LP-PLA2 and CRP as predictors of cognitive scores. No relationship was found between elevated MCP-1, IL-18 and cognition. Presence of the ApoE4 allele did not impact the relationship between biomarkers and cognitive function. Levels of atherogenesis-related pro-inflammatory blood biomarkers did not predict cognitive function in middle-aged adults after an interval of 8 years.
Highlights
The present study examined the relationship of four pro-inflammatory factors, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase (LP-PLA2), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein
We did not observe a significant relationship between cognitive function and inflammatory biomarker levels ascertained 8 years earlier; the only correlation was between Lp-PLA2 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, but in the positive direction
There was a modest relationship between CRP and MoCA scores but no significant relationships between levels of MCP-1, IL-18 and cognition
Summary
The present study examined the relationship of four pro-inflammatory factors, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase (LP-PLA2), and Monocyte chemoattractant proteinHow to cite this paper: Bernardo, K.A., Rossetti, H.C., Weiner, M.F., Cullum, C.M., De Lemos, J. and Lacritz, L.H. (2016) Pro-Inflammatory Substances and Cognition in the Dallas Heart Study. Elevations in plasma CRP have been associated with higher risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) [2]-[4] though the relationship between CRP and cognitive function remains unclear. Elevated levels of IL-18 have been linked to risk for coronary heart disease [7] [8]. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 and cognitive function has been only recently examined; elevated levels of Lp-PLA2 are associated with an increased risk of dementia [12] and increased risk of both Alzheimer’s dementia and mixed dementia [13]. One study finds significantly increased MCP-1 levels in MCI and mild AD, but not in severe AD as compared with controls, suggesting that upregulation of this chemokine may be an early event in the pathogenesis of MCI and dementia [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
