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The link between C-reactive protein and Alzheimer's disease among Mexican Americans

Sid E O'Bryant1, Leigh Johnson, Melissa Edwards

  • 1University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. sid.o’bryant@unthsc.edu

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|December 21, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were lower in Mexican American individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to controls. However, CRP was not linked to disease severity in this group.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomarkers
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are significant health concerns.
  • Investigating biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP) is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.
  • Ethnic variations in disease presentation and progression warrant specific research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a Mexican American cohort.
  • To compare these associations with those in non-Hispanic individuals.
  • To determine if CRP levels correlate with disease severity in different ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of non-fasting serum CRP levels, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores.
  • Inclusion of 1,066 participants from the Texas Alzheimer's Research & Care Consortium (n=471 Mexican American, n=595 non-Hispanic).
  • Statistical comparison of CRP levels across normal controls, MCI, and AD groups, stratified by ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • Serum CRP levels were significantly lower in Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases compared to normal controls (p < 0.001) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cases (p = 0.002) in the total cohort.
  • CRP levels were also decreased in MCI cases relative to controls (p = 0.03).
  • Among Mexican American and non-Hispanic AD cases, CRP levels were significantly decreased compared to controls. CRP levels were associated with disease severity (CDR scores) only in non-Hispanic AD cases (p = 0.03).

Conclusions:

  • Serum CRP levels are decreased in Mexican American individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • Unlike in non-Hispanic whites, CRP levels do not appear to be associated with clinical variables or disease severity in Mexican American AD patients.
  • These findings suggest potential ethnic-specific differences in the role of inflammation, as indicated by CRP, in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and clinical presentation.

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