Plasma interleukin-6 and executive function in crack cocaine-dependent women.
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and executive function (EF) in crack cocaine-dependent women.



42 crack cocaine-dependent women (CRACK) and 52 healthy women (CONTROL) were evaluated with respect to EF using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Plasma IL-6 levels were quantitatively determined using the multiplexed cytometric bead assay.



The CRACK group had poor performance on WSCT scores (Non-perseverative Errors and Percent Conceptual Level Responses) and higher plasma IL-6 levels when compared with the CONTROL group. Furthermore, IL-6 was correlated with worsening of several WCST sub-scores and a linear regression model showed that IL-6 levels predicted worse cognitive flexibility within the CRACK group independently of intelligence quotient and education.



The results of this study indicated that low performances in EF task are associated with higher IL-6 levels in crack cocaine-dependent women. These data bolster previous works that link the cognitive decline observed in drug addicts with mechanisms of inflammation.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunosenescence, Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Mateus Luz
ML
Levandowski
Institute of Psychology, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (LPNEC), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil; Universidade do Vale do Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil.
Adriana Raquel Binsfeld
AR
Hess
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunosenescence, Institute of Biomedical Research, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: rodrigo.grassi@pucrs.br.
Rodrigo
R
Grassi-Oliveira
Institute of Psychology, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (LPNEC), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil.
Rosa Maria Martins
RM
de Almeida
D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*
D016578:Crack Cocaine; D015850:Interleukin-6
Biomarkers; Cocaine; Cognitive function; Cytokine; Disorder; Inflammation; Substance use