title: Peripheral inflammatory markers in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively monitor plasma inflammatory marker concentrations in peripheral blood, over 12 months, in subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to determine the relationship between peripheral inflammatory markers and cognitive decline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with amnestic MCI were recruited from two sites providing specialist memory assessment services in Manchester. The baseline assessment included physical examination, neuro-psychological testing and venous blood samples for C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations. Sixty two participants were followed up after 12 months and the assessments were repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed a significant rise in CRP, but not IL-6 concentrations over 12 months, which was not confounded by demographic variables. The neuro-psychological test scores had no association with CRP or IL-6 concentrations at baseline or 12 months follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study adopted the unique approach of prospectively investigating peripheral inflammatory markers in a cohort with amnestic MCI. A significant rise in CRP concentrations over 12 months, but lack of significant association with cognition, provide no evidence for a relationship between systemic inflammation and cognitive decline in amnestic MCI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Purandare
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Pippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000647:Amnesia / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: CRP; IL6; inflammatory markers; mild cognitive impairment