title: The link between C-reactive protein and Alzheimer's disease among Mexican Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the link between C-reactive protein (CRP) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among Mexican Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-fasting serum CRP levels, Mini-Mental State Examination scores, and Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) scores were analyzed from 1,066 participants (Mexican American n = 471; non-Hispanic n = 595) of the Texas Alzheimer's Research & Care Consortium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the total cohort, CRP levels among AD cases were significantly decreased as compared to normal controls (p < 0.001) and MCI cases (p = 0.002). CRP levels among MCI cases were decreased relative to controls (p = 0.03). Among Mexican American and non-Hispanic AD cases, CRP levels were significantly decreased among AD cases as compared to controls. CRP levels were only associated with disease severity (CDR scores) among non-Hispanics (p = 0.03) AD cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that while CRP levels are decreased among Mexican American AD cases, CRP does not appear to be related to clinical variables as it is among non-Hispanic whites.
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. sid.o’bryant@unthsc.edu
authors.forename: Sid E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Bryant
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Devous
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rohlfing
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein