Subjective Cognitive Decline And Inflammation Among The Elderly

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a state of self‐perception of cognitive worsening compared to the normal state, without abnormalities on objective neuropsychological assessments. Since its definition in 2014, this condition has raised considerable interest, once those patients are at higher risk for developing objective cognitive decline, Alzheimer disease and other types of dementia (JESSEN 2020). The inflammatory cytokine network is associated with aging‐related diseases, and changes in the release of these substances may impact higher brain functions, such as mood and cognition (NG 2018).MethodUsers of basic healthcare units aged 60 years and over without dementia (MMSE≥14) and non‐depressed (CES‐D<16) from a community sample in São Paulo were assessed with a questionnaire about perceived memory problems (“have you had memory problems lately?”) and for sociodemographic data, cognitive and depression screening. Serum samples were collected for dosages of C‐reactive protein (RCP), interferon gamma (IG) and interleukines (IL) 1, 4 and 10.ResultOut of the 529 elderly evaluated in the study, 286 were women, of which 112 (39,1%) had SCD, and 243 men, with 89 (36,6%) having SCD. The SCD group had a mean age of 69.8 years old and a mean of 8.4 years of education, contrasting with 68.3 years of age and 5.07 years of education among those without SCD. The mean age difference was statistically significant. The SCD group had a slightly lower mean dosage of IL‐1 and higher mean dosages of IL 4 and 10, IG and RCP, but only the latter reached statistical significance.ConclusionOur study represents a step further towards understanding the pathophysiology of SCD, as this preclinical condition could be a target of future early interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia syndromes.