Association of C-reactive protein with cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a biomarker of cardiovascular risk that is suggested to be a biomarker for cognitive impairment.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between hsCRP and cognitive impairment.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based community aging study.


METHODS
Northern Manhattan, New York, New York.


METHODS
One thousand three hundred thirty-one participants from a longitudinal study of aging without dementia and with available hsCRP and neuropsychological testing data at baseline.


METHODS
Four cognitive scores (memory, visuospatial, executive, and language impairment) derived from a neuropsychological battery. Cognitive impairment was defined by scores below 1.5 SDs of demographically corrected means.


RESULTS
Participants in the highest hsCRP tertile had higher adjusted odds of impaired memory (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.1; P = .03) than participants in the lowest tertile. Subjects in the highest hsCRP tertile also had greater odds of visuospatial impairment (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.3; P = .03). Higher hsCRP was not associated with executive or language impairment. Persons with at least 1 APOE epsilon4 allele and hsCRP in the highest tertile had the greatest odds of impaired memory (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.4).


CONCLUSIONS
High hsCRP may be a marker of memory and visuospatial impairment in the elderly. The role of APOE epsilon4 requires further exploration.
Noble
James M
JM
Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
Manly
Jennifer J
JJ
Schupf
Nicole
N
Tang
Ming Xing
MX
Mayeux
Richard
R
Luchsinger
José A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein