Correlation of early cognitive dysfunction with inflammatory factors and metabolic indicators in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Am J Transl Res. 2021 Aug 15;13(8):9208-9215. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to clarify the correlation of early cognitive dysfunction (CD) with inflammatory factors and metabolic indicators in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Eighty patients with AD who were referred to our hospital from May 2019 to May 2020 were selected as the research group (RG) and 71 non-AD patients served as the control group (CG). The two groups were compared regarding the changes in their mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores and inflammatory factors as well as metabolic indicators. The correlation of MMSE with inflammatory factors and metabolic indicators was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.

Results: The RG presented with lower MMSE scores than the CG. Interleukin (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1β levels, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were all higher in the RG as compared to the CG, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ApoE and ApoAI were lower (all P<0.05). The MMSE score was negatively associated with IL-6, CRP, IL-1β, LDL-C, TC, TG, FPG and SBP levels, and was positively correlated with HDL-C, ApoE and ApoAI levels.

Conclusions: Inflammatory factors and metabolic indicators are highly correlated with early CD in patients with AD, and thus may be excellent potential indicators for the future diagnosis and treatment of AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; correlation research; early cognitive dysfunction; inflammatory factors; metabolic indicators.