Increased S100beta is associated with reduced cognitive function in healthy older adults.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular pathology is associated with reduced performance on neuropsychological tests, particularly in older adults. A likely explanation involves a disruption in the blood brain barrier (BBB). Work from clinical samples show alterations in BBB function is associated with cognitive dysfunction on testing, though no study has examined this possibility in healthy older adults.


METHODS
35 older adults, without significant neurological or psychiatric history, underwent fasting blood draw and neuropsychological testing. Serum levels of S100beta were quantified to provide a measure of BBB function.


RESULTS
Partial correlations showed S100beta levels were inversely related to performance in multiple cognitive domains, including memory (r = 0.43, p = 0.02), psychomotor speed and visual attention (r = 0.37, p = 0.05), and working memory (r = -0.48, p = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that increased S100beta levels are associated with poorer cognitive function in neurologically healthy older adults, implicating BBB function in age-related cognitive decline. Further work is needed to clarify possible mechanisms, particularly longitudinal studies that involve neuroimaging.
Yadavalli
Suhrida
S
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA. syadaval@kent.edu
Gunstad
John
J
Glickman
Ellen
E
Alexander
Thomas
T
Spitznagel
Mary Beth
MB
Juvancic-Heltzel
Judi
J
Murray
Leigh
L
Collinsworth
Tiffany
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins