High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cognitive function in older women.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory processes may be involved in the development of dementia, although findings from epidemiologic studies directly examining inflammatory markers and dementia or its precursor, impaired cognitive function, are inconsistent.


METHODS
We measured plasma levels of the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, using a high-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP) in 4,231 older participants of the Women's Health Study, who provided blood samples between 1992 and 1996 when they were age 60 to 90 years. From 1998 to 2000, we administered a battery of 5 cognitive tests measuring general cognition, verbal memory, and category fluency. Using multiple linear regression, we compared mean cognitive test scores across quintiles of hs-CRP, adjusting for potential confounding factors.


RESULTS
There was a wide distribution of hs-CRP levels among these women, and a large proportion had levels considered to reflect a high risk of cardiovascular disease. We observed no suggestion, however, that higher hs-CRP levels were associated with poorer cognitive performance. For example, on a global score combining results of all the cognitive tests, mean scores among women in the highest quintile of hs-CRP did not differ from those in the lowest quintile (multivariable-adjusted mean difference = 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.02 to 0.11, P for trend across quintiles = 0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, in these women, we found no evidence of a link between hs-CRP, a marker of inflammation, and decrements in cognitive function.
Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. jweuve@hsph.harvard.edu
Jennifer
J
Weuve
Paul M
PM
Ridker
Nancy R
NR
Cook
Julie E
JE
Buring
Francine
F
Grodstein
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
D002097:C-Reactive Protein