title: C-reactive protein is related to memory and medial temporal brain volume in older adults.
abstract: Recent research suggests a central role for inflammatory mechanisms in cognitive decline that may occur prior to evidence of neurodegeneration. Limited information exists, however, regarding the relationship between low-grade inflammation and cognitive function in healthy older adults. This study examined the relation between inflammation, verbal memory consolidation, and medial temporal lobe volumes in a cohort of older community-dwelling subjects. Subjects included 141 functionally intact, community-dwelling older adults with detectable (n=76) and undetectable (n=65) levels of C-reactive protein. A verbal episodic memory measure was administered to all subjects, and measures of delayed recall and recognition memory were assessed. A semiautomated parcellation program was used to analyze structural MRI scans. On the episodic memory task, analysis of covariance revealed a significant CRP group by memory recall interaction, such that participants with detectable levels of CRP evidenced worse performance after a delay compared to those with undetectable levels of CRP. Individuals with detectable CRP also demonstrated lower performance on a measure of recognition memory. Imaging data demonstrated smaller left medial temporal lobe volumes in the detectable CRP group as compared with the undetectable CRP group. These findings underscore a potential role for inflammation in cognitive aging as a modifiable risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. bbettcher@memory.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Brianne Magouirk
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bettcher
authors.forename: Reva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilheim
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaffe
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein