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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Inflammatory Markers in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis
Mahwesh Saleem1,2, Nathan Herrmann1,3, Walter Swardfager1,2
1Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Reports of elevated inflammatory markers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suggest that inflammation may be a potential early marker of the neurodegenerative cascade associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to quantitatively summarize the data on peripheral blood concentrations of inflammatory factors in patients with MCI compared to controls. Mean (±SD) blood concentrations of inflammatory factors for MCI and control subjects were extracted from original English language peer-reviewed studies for meta-analysis. Twenty-two studies measuring concentrations of cytokines, chemokines, acute phase reactant proteins, immunoglobulins, intercellular adhesion molecules, and fibrinogen were included. No significant differences in inflammatory factors studied were found between subjects with MCI and healthy controls. These findings do not support the involvement of inflammatory markers at the MCI stage of cognitive decline although significant heterogeneity was observed in some comparisons. It remains to be established whether inflammation may predict increased rate of conversion to dementia.
Insights
This study found no significant differences in peripheral inflammatory markers between individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls. These findings do not support inflammation as an early marker for Alzheimer's disease at the MCI stage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Inflammation is implicated in the neurodegenerative processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Elevated inflammatory markers have been suggested as potential early indicators in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively summarize peripheral blood concentrations of inflammatory factors in MCI patients compared to controls.
- To assess the role of peripheral inflammation in the early stages of cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 22 peer-reviewed studies.
- Inclusion of studies measuring cytokines, chemokines, acute phase proteins, immunoglobulins, adhesion molecules, and fibrinogen.
- Extraction of mean blood concentrations from MCI and control groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in the studied peripheral inflammatory factors between MCI subjects and healthy controls.
- Significant heterogeneity was noted in some comparisons, indicating variability in study findings.
- The data do not support peripheral inflammation as a marker for MCI.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral inflammatory markers do not appear to be significantly altered at the mild cognitive impairment stage.
- Further research is needed to determine if inflammation predicts conversion to dementia.
- The role of inflammation in early Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis requires further investigation.
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