Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
A Silicosis Mouse Model Established by Repeated Inhalation of Crystalline Silica Dust
Published on: January 6, 2023
Inflammatory mediators link occupational aluminum exposure to domain-specific cognitive impairment: Evidence from a
Guo Shihui1, Hongjie Jiang1, Xiaoting Lu1
1Shanxi Medical University, China.
Background:
Occupational aluminum exposure correlates with cognitive decline; however, the correlational mediating roles of specific inflammatory cytokines across distinct cognitive domains remain unclear.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study enrolled 516 male workers aged 21-59 years from a Shanxi aluminum plant. Cognitive function was assessed via MoCA, AVLT and TMT; four latent cognitive domains (memory, executive, expressive, visuospatial function) were extracted by exploratory factor analysis. Plasma aluminum was detected using ICP-MS, and serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-4, IL-10) were measured by ELISA. Multivariable linear regression, correlational mediation models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used to explore variable associations, statistical mediation patterns and cohort-specific exploratory aluminum reference thresholds.
Results:
Plasma aluminum was stratified into four quartiles (<25.13, 25.13-48.47, 48.47-81.39, ≥81.39 µg/L). Significant differences in global cognition and all inflammatory cytokines were detected across quartile groups (all P < 0.05). Higher plasma aluminum and inflammatory cytokine levels were correlated with lower executive and expressive function scores (Ptrend < 0.001). Inflammatory mediators presented a joint correlational mediating pattern for the association between aluminum exposure and global cognition. IL-1β/IL-18 acted as correlational intermediaries for the association between aluminum exposure and executive dysfunction, while IL-4/IL-10 played similar correlational roles in expressive dysfunction. RCS yielded cohort-specific exploratory thresholds: 59.93 µg/L (global cognition), 58.10 µg/L (executive function), and 20.15 µg/L (expressive function).
Conclusions:
Occupational aluminum exposure is correlated with impaired executive and expressive function, with overall observational evidence supporting that inflammatory mediators link these variables via a statistical mediating pathway. Plasma aluminum and circulating inflammatory cytokines can serve as auxiliary biomarkers for early cognitive decline risk screening among aluminum-exposed workers.
