Composite Inflammatory Biomarker Linked to Dementia Risk

FRIDAY, July 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of a composite inflammatory biomarker are associated with an increased subsequent risk for dementia, according to a study published online July 19 in PLOS ONE.

Krisztina Mekli, Ph.D., from the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues examined the association between a composite inflammatory biomarker and cognitive performance measures across five domains measured concurrently and four to 13 years later in a population-based cohort of 500,000 people. In the initially dementia-free sample, the same biomarker's association with dementia diagnosis three to 11 years later was examined.

Comparing the highest with the lowest quartile of the biomarker, the researchers identified small but significant associations between elevated biomarker levels and worsened cognitive performance at baseline for four cognitive tasks (prospective memory, fluid intelligence, reaction time, and numeric memory). For one measure (pairs matching), higher biomarker levels were associated with fewer errors. The fourth quartiles of the baseline biomarker levels were significantly associated with cognitive task scores assessed years later, except for the pairs matching test. The highest versus the lowest biomarker quartile was significantly associated with increased dementia risk (hazard ratio, 1.349; 95 percent confidence level, 1.215 to 1.498; P < 0.001). Probable differences in the association with the highest biomarker quartile were suggested in a case-only analysis between vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease subtypes (odds ratio, 1.483; 95 percent confidence level, 0.991 to 2.220; P = 0.055).

"This association of course does not mean causality, therefore further research is needed to understand and evaluate the potential mechanism," Mekli said in a statement.

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