Plasma C-reactive protein is related to cognitive deterioration and dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and the risk for cognitive deterioration and development of dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).


METHODS
Elderly Chinese patients with suspected cognitive impairment were screened. A total of 168 patients who met the criteria for MCI were enrolled. Plasma CRP levels were measured at baseline. The global cognitive functions were assessed at baseline and during follow-up periodically with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). All enrolled patients were followed and evaluated regularly for 2 years to determine if the patients developed dementia.


RESULTS
Of the 168 patients with MCI diagnosed at baseline, 14 (8.3%) deceased, 13 (7.7%) lost to follow-up, and 58 (34.5%) developed dementia during follow-up. MMSE score of the enrolled patients declined significantly during follow-up (22.1 +/- 3.0 vs 18.6 +/- 5.5, P < 0.001). MMSE score was significantly lower for the patients with high CRP levels than that for those with low plasma CRP levels (-4.9 +/- 5.4 vs -3.2 +/- 4.2, P < 0.05). Patients with high plasma CRP level had an increased risk for dementia and vascular dementia as compared with patients with low level of plasma CRP (Log rank test, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High plasma CRP level was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risk for dementia in patients with MCI.
Xu
Gelin
G
Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305# East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. gelinxu@gmail.com
Zhou
Zhiming
Z
Zhu
Wusheng
W
Fan
Xiaobing
X
Liu
Xinfeng
X
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
D002097:C-Reactive Protein