Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
07:22
Assessment of Blood-brain Barrier Permeability by Intravenous Infusion of FITC-labeled Albumin in a Mouse Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: November 8, 2017
Serum albumin concentration and cognitive impairment
D J Llewellyn1, K M Langa, R P Friedland
1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 2SR, UK. dl355@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Current Alzheimer Research
|March 9, 2010
Summary
Low serum albumin levels are linked to a higher risk of cognitive impairment in older adults. This population-based study found a significant association, suggesting albumin may be a key indicator for brain health in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Clinical studies suggest a link between low serum albumin and cognitive impairment.
- Evidence from population-based studies remains inconclusive regarding this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum albumin levels and cognitive impairment in an elderly population.
- To determine if low serum albumin is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1,752 adults aged 65+ from the Health Survey for England 2000.
- Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Abbreviated Mental Test Score.
- Logistic regression modeled the association between serum albumin quartiles and cognitive impairment, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- 212 participants (12.1%) exhibited cognitive impairment.
- Increased odds of cognitive impairment were observed in lower serum albumin quartiles (ORs 2.5, 1.7, 1.5 for lowest three quartiles vs. highest).
- A significant linear trend (p=0.002) indicated a dose-response relationship between lower albumin and higher impairment risk, consistent across sexes.
Conclusions:
- Low serum albumin is independently associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in the elderly.
- Serum albumin may serve as a potential biomarker for cognitive health in aging populations.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying this association.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Hepatic Encephalopathy
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
01:24Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.