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.
Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305# East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. gelinxu@gmail.com
Gelin
G
Xu
Zhiming
Z
Zhou
Wusheng
W
Zhu
Xiaobing
X
Fan
Xinfeng
X
Liu
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