C-reactive protein, but not homocysteine, is related to cognitive dysfunction in older adults with cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. Recent studies implicate homocysteine (HCY) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in this increased risk, as both are associated with cognitive dysfunction in demented and non-demented patients. However, it remains unclear whether they confer added risk in older adults with CVD. A total of 126 older CVD patients underwent blood and neuropsychological evaluation as part of a prospective examination of the neurocognitive consequences of CVD. A subset of these participants (n=37) also underwent neuroimaging to quantify the degree of white matter disease. After adjusting for demographic and medical factors, no significant relationship emerged between HCY and cognitive performance. In contrast, CRP showed significant independent relationships to test performance, including global cognitive performance, attention/psychomotor function, executive function, memory, and visuospatial abilities. Neither HCY nor CRP was related to extent of white matter disease or whole brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging. Further study is needed to identify mechanisms by which inflammatory processes impact on cognitive function and to determine whether reducing circulating levels of inflammatory markers results in improved cognition.
Gunstad
John
J
Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. jgunstad@kent.edu
Bausserman
Linda
L
Paul
Robert H
RH
Tate
David F
DF
Hoth
Karin
K
Poppas
Athena
A
Jefferson
Angela L
AL
Cohen
Ronald A
RA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein