Interconnected Pathways: Exploring Inflammation, Pain, and Cognitive Decline in Osteoarthritis
Mihails Tarasovs1,2, Sandra Skuja3, Simons Svirskis4
1Department of Internal Diseases, Riga Stradins University, Hipokrata Str. 2, LV-1038 Riga, Latvia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|November 27, 2024
Summary
Osteoarthritis inflammation and pain are linked to cognitive decline and mental health issues. Urinary biomarkers like TNF-α and TGF-β1 may indicate disease severity in patients.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- The interplay between inflammation, pain, and cognitive function in osteoarthritis (OA) is not fully understood.
- Investigating these relationships is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of OA-related inflammation and pain on cognitive functions.
- To explore the utility of urinary biomarkers for assessing inflammation and disease severity in OA patients.
Main Methods:
- Clinical and cognitive assessments of 50 OA patients.
- Morphological analysis, urinary biomarker detection (TNF-α, TGF-β1, COMP, CTX-II), and bioinformatics.
- Correlation analysis between inflammation markers, pain, cognitive scores, and clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- Moderate to high synovial inflammation correlated with depressive symptoms, pain, and anxiety.
- Urinary TNF-α and TGF-β1 levels reflected inflammation, pain, and disease severity.
- Cartilage markers showed inverse correlations with pain duration and cognitive function.
- Distinct patient clusters with higher inflammation exhibited increased pain and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Synovial inflammation in OA may negatively impact mental and cognitive health in specific patient groups.
- Urinary TNF-α and TGF-β1 show promise as biomarkers for OA inflammation and severity.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex mechanisms linking OA, inflammation, pain, and cognition.
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