title: C-reactive protein level is decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related to cognitive function and survival time.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have observed decreased serum CRP levels in patients with established Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to controls or other diagnostic groups of elderly patients with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have investigated the relation between CRP level and the severity of AD as assessed by cognitive function, brain imaging and survival time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with AD showed overall lower CRP levels than other patients with mental illness, but elevated CRP levels in these patients were associated with lower cognitive function and shorter survival time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reason for an overall low CRP level is not obvious. Elevated CRP level in patients with AD suggests the presence of inflammatory activity in this subgroup of patients that may benefit from anti-inflammatory administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychogeriatrics, Clinical Science, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Lund University Hospital, S-22185 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hultberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein