title: Decreased C-reactive protein levels in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant that has been found to be associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) in histopathological and longitudinal studies; however, little data exist regarding serum CRP levels in patients with established AD. The current study evaluated CRP levels in 192 patients diagnosed with probable AD (mean age = 75.8 +/- 8.2 years; 50% female) as compared to 174 nondemented controls (mean age = 70.6 +/- 8.2 years; 63% female). Mean CRP levels were found to be significantly decreased in AD (2.9 microg/mL) versus controls (4.9 microg/mL; P = .003). In adjusted models, elevated CRP significantly predicted poorer (elevated) Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of boxes (CDR SB) scores in patients with AD. In controls, CRP was negatively associated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and positively associated with CDR SB scores. These findings, together with previously published results, are consistent with the hypothesis that midlife elevations in CRP are associated with increased risk of AD development though elevated CRP levels are not useful for prediction in the immediate prodrome years before AD becomes clinically manifest. However, for a subgroup of patients with AD, elevated CRP continues to predict increased dementia severity suggestive of a possible proinflammatory endophenotype in AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural & Community Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA. sid.obryant@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Sid E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Bryant
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Carol B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Teodoro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bottiglieri
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massman
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz-Arrastia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein