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Cognitive impairment is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly

Nattayaporn Apaijai1,2, Sirawit Sriwichaiin1,2,3, Arintaya Phrommintikul1,2,4

  • 1Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.

Scientific Reports
|December 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. This study found reduced ATP production and increased oxidative stress in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of individuals with MCI.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cognitive impairment is a significant concern in the aging population.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction in lymphocytes may serve as a biomarker for neurodegeneration.
  • Peripheral mitochondrial function is increasingly recognized as relevant to cognitive status in the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between mitochondrial function in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cognitive impairment in the elderly.
  • To test the hypothesis that impaired mitochondrial ATP production and oxidative stress are linked to cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 897 participants from the EGAT cohort, categorized into normal cognition (n=428) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=469) groups based on MoCA scores.
  • Binary logistic regression was employed to analyze the relationship between mitochondrial function markers and cognitive status.
  • Assessment of demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters including age, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Main Results:

  • Participants with MCI were older and had higher systolic blood pressure, waist/hip ratio, and lower HDL/LDL cholesterol compared to the normal cognition group.
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate was lower in the MCI group.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction in PBMCs, characterized by decreased ATP production, increased proton leak, and elevated oxidative stress, was significantly associated with MCI.

Conclusions:

  • Mild cognitive impairment in the elderly is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in PBMCs.
  • This dysfunction includes reduced ATP production, increased proton leak, and heightened oxidative stress.
  • These findings hold true independently of several potential confounding factors.

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