title: Elevated C-Reactive Protein Is Associated with Cognitive Decline in Outpatients of a General Hospital: The Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine whether the concentration of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cognitive function in an adult Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of this cross-sectional study were from a subgroup of the Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST; n = 454; mean age, 70.5 years). The cognitive state was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and those with an MMSE score <24 were considered 'cognitively declined'. Concentrations of serum high-sensitivity CRP were measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for cognitive decline, adjusting for the covariates of age, sex, BMI, disease history, and APOE allele.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 454 participants, 94 (20.7%) were cognitively declined. Relative to the lowest (first) quartile of CRP concentration, adjusted ORs were 1.29 (95% CI 0.61-2.75) for the second, 1.78 (95% CI 0.82-3.86) for the third, and 3.05 (95% CI 1.45-6.42) for the highest (fourth) quartiles (p for trend = 0.018). When data were stratified by sex, the association between CRP concentration and cognitive decline was observed only in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest an association between higher CRP concentration and lower cognitive function. Chronic inflammation may affect cognitive function in adults, in particular women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: JA Niigata Koseiren Sado General Hospital, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanpei
authors.affiliation: Center for Inter-Organ Communication Research, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakasugi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Resource Branch for Brain Disease Research, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokoseki
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Resource Branch for Brain Disease Research, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuwano
authors.affiliation: JA Niigata Koseiren Sado General Hospital, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Momotsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Endo
keywords: C-reactive protein; Cognition in outpatients; Cross-sectional studies; Elderly Japanese population; Epidemiology