Associations between systemic pro-inflammatory markers, cognitive function and cognitive complaints in a...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Limited understanding of systemic inflammation's impact on cognitive function in healthy adults.
• Investigating pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, CRP) in relation to cognition.
• Focus on a population-based sample of working adults aged 25-67.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between four pro-inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive functions.
• To assess associations with executive cognitive functioning, episodic memory, and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC).
• To explore these relationships in a diverse adult age range.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of four systemic pro-inflammatory biomarkers: IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, and CRP.
• Assessment of executive cognitive functioning and episodic memory.
• Evaluation of subjective cognitive complaints (SCC).
• Statistical adjustments for demographic factors, health status, and depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

• Higher MCP-1 levels correlated with poorer executive functioning, even after extensive adjustments.
• IL-6 and CRP were associated with poorer executive functioning, but these links were age-dependent and not significant after demographic adjustments.
• MCP-1 showed an association with poorer episodic memory, which was age-dependent and not significant after demographic adjustments.
• CRP was linked to episodic memory only in participants without reported health conditions.
• Higher MCP-1 levels were associated with more SCC, influenced by depressive symptoms, while higher TNF-α was linked to fewer SCC.

Conclusions:

• Low-grade systemic inflammation, particularly elevated MCP-1, is associated with impaired executive functioning in working adults.
• Associations with episodic memory and SCC were less consistent.
• Further research is needed to establish causality between inflammation and cognitive function.