Background/objective

Inflammation is implicated in cognitive decline; however, there is a paucity of data for African American populations and for sex-specific associations.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy/Genetics of Microangiopathic Brain Injury studies.

Participants

African-American sibships (N = 1010).

Measurements

Neurocognitive tests assessed global cognition and four cognitive domains: processing speed, memory, language, and executive function at two time points over seven years. Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-1 and TNFR2 were measured at study baseline. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the association between inflammation markers and cognitive decline.

Results

Among men, a one SD increase in CRP was associated with an increased rate of decline over 7 years in global cognitive Z-score (adjusted difference in slopes = −0.31, p = 0.006) and in processing speed Z-score (adjusted difference in slopes = −0.10, p = 0.02), but not declines in memory, language, or executive function Z-scores. Also among men, a one SD increase in IL-6 was associated with an increased decline rate in global cognitive Z-score (adjusted difference in slopes = −0.33, p = 0.002) and in processing speed Z-score (adjusted difference in slopes = −0.12, p = 0.007). There was no difference in decline rates by CRP or IL-6 level in adjusted analyses among women for any cognitive scores. Among men and women combined, a one SD increase in baseline sTNFR1 was associated with a faster rate of decline in memory Z-score (adjusted difference in slopes = −0.09, p = 0.02). Baseline sTNFR2 levels did not significantly predict rate of cognitive decline in any cognitive domains.

Conclusions

Circulating markers of CRP and IL-6 may be differential risk factors for men and women in relation to cognitive decline. A novel inflammation marker, sTNFR1, may be a useful predictor of memory decline in older adults.

中文翻译：

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炎症标志物与认知能力下降的性别特异性关联。

背景/目标

炎症与认知能力下降有关。但是，针对非裔美国人人口和特定性别的协会的数据很少。

设计

前瞻性队列研究。

设置

动脉疾病/微血管病性脑损伤遗传学的遗传流行病学网络。

参加者

非裔美国人同胞关系（N = 1010）。

测量

神经认知测验评估了全球认知和四个认知领域：在七年中的两个时间点的处理速度，记忆，语言和执行功能。在研究基线时测量了C反应蛋白（CRP），白介素6（IL-6），肿瘤坏死因子受体（TNFR）-1和TNFR2的循环水平。线性混合模型用于研究炎症标志物与认知能力下降之间的关联。

结果

在男性中，CRP的每增加一个SD与全球认知Z评分（调整后的坡度差异= -0.31，P = 0.006）和处理速度Z评分（经调整的差异7年）的下降率增加相关。斜率= −0.10，p = 0.02），但在记忆力，语言或执行功能Z评分上并未下降。同样在男性中，IL-6的SD升高与总体认知Z评分（调整后的斜率差= -0.33，p = 0.002）和加工速度Z评分（调整后的斜率差）的下降率增加相关= -0.12，p = 0.007）。在任何认知得分的女性中，校正后分析中CRP或IL-6水平的下降率均无差异。在男女中，基线sTNFR1的SD升高与记忆Z评分的下降速度加快相关（斜率调整后差异= -0.09，p = 0.02）。基线sTNFR2水平并未显着预测任何认知领域的认知衰退率。

结论

CRP和IL-6的循环指标可能是男女认知能力下降的危险因素。新型炎症标志物sTNFR1可能是老年人记忆力下降的有用预测指标。