title: Elevated C-reactive protein is related to cognitive decline in older adults with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively relate C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation, to cognitive change over a 1-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient university medical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight adults (aged 56-84; 39% female) with cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  CRP levels were measured using a high-sensitivity assay, and participants completed a neuropsychological battery at study entry. Neuropsychological assessment was repeated 1 year later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The association between CRP and change in cognition over the 1-year follow-up was examined using hierarchical linear regression modeling for five cognitive domains (global cognition, language, memory, visuospatial abilities, and attention-executive-psychomotor). High CRP levels were associated with subtle declines in attention-executive-psychomotor performance (CRP beta=-0.22, P=.04) after adjusting for the effects of age and cognitive performance at study entry. CRP was not significantly associated with change in language, memory, or visuospatial performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide preliminary evidence that inflammation, potentially contributing to atherosclerotic processes, may underlie the association between high CRP and changes in attention-executive-psychomotor performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. hothk@njc.org
authors.forename: Karin F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hoth
authors.forename: Andreana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poppas
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jerskey
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
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