Inflammatory biomarkers tied to measures of cognitive ageing

A recent study has found that circulating levels of immune cell activation may predict poorer performance on neuropsychological tests, while inflammatory regulators may impact brain volume.

The study drew from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring, from which 2,358 participants provided data on neuropsychological test results and 2,100 on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In parallel, an FHS cohort of 1,616 patients who developed dementia over a 10-year follow-up period was also assessed.

The analysis focused on 11 plasma proteins, all of which were related to immune or inflammatory responses: CD14, CD163, CD5L, CD56, CD40L, CXCL16, SDF1, DPP4, SGP130, sRAGE, and MPO.

Results showed that CD14 (β, –0.06), CD40L (β, –0.07), and MPO (β, –0.061) were all significantly and negatively associated with executive function, while sRAGE (β, 0.05) was a positive indicator.

Similarly, higher levels of CD14 correlated with smaller total brain volume (β, –0.14), as were levels of CD5L (β, –0.13). Concentrations of sRAGE, on the other hand, were significantly and positively associated with total brain volume (β, 0.19).

“Our study suggests that these peripheral inflammatory factors, which are generally produced in response to innate immune activation, may play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD),” the researchers said.

“While further confirmation of our findings in a larger diverse sample is needed, this data indicates potential immune pathways for future exploration into early risk factors for dementia and AD and potential treatments,” they added.