Correlation between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and poststroke mild cognitive impairment

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biochemistry
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Poststroke mild cognitive impairment (PSMCI) is a common complication following stroke.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for PSMCI is crucial for early detection and intervention.
• Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory enzyme implicated in cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum Lp-PLA2 levels and PSMCI.
• To determine if Lp-PLA2 is an independent risk factor for developing PSMCI.
• To evaluate Lp-PLA2 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PSMCI.

Main Methods:

• Serum Lp-PLA2 levels were measured in patients with PSMCI (68 cases) and cognitively normal (CN) controls (218 cases).
• Logistic regression analysis identified independent risk factors for PSMCI.
• Spearman's correlation and ROC curve analysis assessed the relationship between Lp-PLA2 and cognitive scores (MoCA), and determined diagnostic thresholds.

Main Results:

• Serum Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly higher in the PSMCI group compared to the CN group.
• Lp-PLA2 was identified as an independent risk factor for PSMCI (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03-1.07).
• A significant negative correlation was found between Lp-PLA2 levels and MoCA scores (R = -0.49). The ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.849 with a threshold of 236.8 ng/ml for PSMCI.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum Lp-PLA2 is an independent risk factor for PSMCI.
• Lp-PLA2 may serve as a valuable potential biomarker for the early detection and risk assessment of PSMCI.
• These findings highlight the role of inflammation in cognitive decline after stroke.