Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Systemic Inflammation and Cognition in the Elderly

  • Chapter
Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Abstract

A complex inflammatory cascade is an established part of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and preliminary studies have suggested a link between systemic inflammation and AD. Recent research has extended this theme by examining the influence of systemic inflammation on cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly. Preliminary findings suggest that elevated levels of some inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with poorer cognition at cross-sectional assessment. Longitudinal studies suggest an impact of raised IL-6 and CRP, in terms of both cognitive decline and outcome of dementia. Although findings vary considerably between studies, systemic inflammation may have relevance for cognitive function and cognitive decline in late life. Further comprehensive studies are required to further explore the relationship between systemic inflammation and cognition in the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ishii T, Haga S, Shimizu F (1975) Identification of components of immunoglobulins in senile plaques by means of fluorescent antibody technique. Acta Neuropathol 32:157–162

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rogers J, Luber-Narod J, Styren SD et al (1988) Expression of immune system-associated antigens by cells of the human central nervous system: relationship to the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging 9:339–349

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McGeer PL, Rogers J, McGeer E (2006) Inflammation, anti-inflammatory agents and Alzheimer disease: the last 12 years. J Alzheimers Dis 9:271–276

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Akiyama H, Bargers S, Barnum S et al (2000) Inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging 21:383–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Breitner JC (1996) Inflammatory processes and antiinflammatory drugs in Alzheimer’s disease: a current appraisal. Neurobiol Aging 17:789–794

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. McGeer PL, Schulzer M, McGeer EG (1996) Arthritis and anti-inflammatory agents as possible protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease: a review of 17 epidemiologic studies. Neurology 47:425–432

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wyss-Coray T (2006) Inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease: driving force, bystander or ­beneficial response? Nat Med 12(9):1005–1015

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bermejo P, Martin-Aragon S, Benedi J et al (2008) Differences of peripheral inflammatory markers between mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Immunol Lett 117(2):198–202

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Alvarez A, Cacabelos R, Sanpedro C et al (2007) Serum TNF-alpha levels are increased and correlate negatively with free IGF-I in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging 28:533–536

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dimopoulos N, Piperi C, Salonicioti A et al (2006) Indices of low-grade chronic inflammation correlate with early cognitive deterioration in an elderly Greek population. Neurosci Lett 398(1–2):118–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zuliani G, Ranzini M, Guerra G et al (2007) Plasma cytokines profile in older subjects with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. J Psychiatr Res 41:686–693

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Licastro F, Pedrini S, Caputo L et al (2000) Increased plasma levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and α1-antichymotrypsin in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: peripheral inflammation or signals from the brain? J Neuroimmunol 103:97–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Singh VK, Guthikonda P (1997) Circulating cytokines in Alzheimer’s disease. J Psychiatr Res 31(6):657–660

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McGeer PL, McGeer EG (2001) Polymorphisms in inflammatory genes and the risk of Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 58:1790–1792

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Papassotiropolous A (1999) A genetic variation of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 delays the initial onset and reduces the risk for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Neurol 45:666–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Luterman JD, Haroutunian V, Yemul S et al (2000) Cytokine gene expression as a function of the clinical progression of Alzheimer disease dementia. Arch Neurol 57:1153–1160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McCusker SM, Curran MD, Dynan KB (2001) Association between polymorphism in regulatory region of gene encoding tumour necrosis factor alpha and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia: a case-control study. Lancet 357(9254):436–439

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Nicoll JA, Mrak RE, Graham DI et al (2000) Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Neurol 47(3):365–368

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Franceschi C, Capri M, Monti D et al (2007) Inflammaging and anti-inflammaging: a systemic perspective on aging and longevity emerged from studies in humans. Mech Ageing Dev 128:92–105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Giunta B, Fernandez F, Nikolic WV et al (2008) Inflammaging as a prodrome to Alzheimer’s disease. J Neuroinflammation 5:51–66

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Sparkman NL, Johnson RW (2008) Neuroinflammation associated with aging sensitizes the brain to the effects of infection and stress. Neuroimmunomodulation 15:323–330

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wilson CJ, Finch CE, Cohen HJ (2002) Cytokines and cognition: the case for a head-to-toe paradigm. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:2041–2056

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Alley DE, Crimmins EM, Karlamangla A et al (2008) Inflammation and rate of cognitive change in high-functioning older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 63A(1):50–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Baune BT, Ponath G, Golledge J et al (2008) Association between IL-8 cytokine and cognitive performance in an elderly general population: the MEMO-study. Neurobiol Aging 29:937–944

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sweat V, Starr V, Bruehl H (2008) C-reactive protein is linked to lower cognitive performance in overweight and obese women. Inflammation 31(3):198–207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Schram MT, Euser SM, de Craen AJM et al (2007) Systemic markers of inflammation and cognitive decline in old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 55:708–716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fischer P, Zehetmayer S, Bauer K et al (2006) Relation between vascular risk factors and cognition at age 75. Acta Neurol Scand 114:84–90

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dik MG, Jonker C, Hack CE et al (2005) Serum inflammatory proteins and cognitive decline in older persons. Neurology 64:1371–1377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F et al (2005) Serum C-reactive protein and cognitive function in healthy elderly Italian community dwellers. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 60A(8):1017–1021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Elwan O, Madkour O, Elwan F et al (2003) Brain aging in normal Egyptians: cognition, ­education, personality, genetic and immunological study. J Neurol Sci 211:15–22

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Teunissen CE, van Boxtel MPJ, Bosma H et al (2003) Inflammation markers in relation to cognition in a healthy aging population. J Neuroimmunol 134:142–150

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Weaver JD, Huang MH, Albert M et al (2002) Interleukin-6 and risk of cognitive decline: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Neurology 59:371–378

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bruunsgaard H, Andersen-Ranberg K, Jeune B et al (1999) A high plasma concentration of TNF-α is associated with dementia in centenarians. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 54A(7):357–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Haan MN, Aiello AE, West NA et al (2008) C-reactive protein and rate of dementia in carriers and non carriers of apolipoprotein APOE4 genotype. Neurobiol Aging 29:1774–1782

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Jordanova V, Stewart R, Davies E et al (2007) Markers of inflammation and cognitive decline in an African-Caribbean population. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 22:966–973

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Komulainen P, Lakka TA, Kivipelto M et al (2007) Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein and cognitive function in elderly women. Age Ageing 36:443–448

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Rafnsson SB, Deary IJ, Smith FB et al (2007) Cognitive decline and markers of inflammation and hemostasis: the Edinburgh artery study. J Am Geriatr Soc 55:700–707

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F et al (2007) Blood inflammatory markers and risk of dementia: the Conselice study of brain aging. Neurobiol Aging 28:1810–1820

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Tan ZS, Beiser AS, Vasan RS et al (2007) Inflammatory markers and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: the Framingham study. Neurology 68:1902–1908

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Van den Biggelaar AHJ, Gussekloo J, de Craen AJM et al (2007) Inflammation and interleukin-1 signaling network contribute to depressive symptoms but not cognitive decline in old age. Exp Gerontol 42:693–701

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Weuve J, Ridker PM, Cook NR et al (2006) High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cognitive function in older women. Epidemiology 17:183–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Tilvis RS, Kahonen-Vare MH, Jolkkonen J et al (2004) Predictors of cognitive decline and mortality of aged people over a 10-year period. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 59A(3):268–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Yaffe K, Kanaya A, Lindquist K et al (2004) The metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and risk of cognitive decline. JAMA 292(18):2237–2242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Engelhart M, Geerlings MI, Meijer J et al (2004) Inflammatory proteins in plasma and the risk of dementia. Arch Neurol 61:668–672

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Schmidt R, Schmidt H, Curb D et al (2002) Early inflammation and dementia: a 25-year follow-up of the Honolulu-Asia aging study. Ann Neurol 52:168–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Gimeno D, Marmot MG, Singh et al (2008) Inflammatory markers and cognitive function in middle-aged adults: the Whitehall II study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 33:1322–1334

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain and Ageing Program, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Julian Trollor & Emmeline Agars

  2. Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australiaand

    Julian Trollor

  3. University of New South Wales, 34 Botany Street, UNSW,Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australiae-mail: j.trollor@unsw.edu.au

    Julian Trollor

Authors
  1. Julian Trollor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emmeline Agars
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julian Trollor .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jinmeikai Research Institute for Mental Health, 53-20 Kabutoyama-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 662-0001, Japan

    Koho Miyoshi M.D., Ph.D. (Director, The former Professor) & Yasushi Morimura M.D., Ph.D. (Chief Executive Officer) (Director, The former Professor) &  (Chief Executive Officer)

  2. Ohmura Hospital, 200 Kitayama-Ohmura, Miki, Hyogo, 673-0404, Japan

    Koho Miyoshi M.D., Ph.D. (Director, The former Professor) (Director, The former Professor)

  3. Department of Occupational Therapy, Kobe Gakuin University School of Rehabilitation, 518 Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2180, Japan

    Kiyoshi Maeda M.D., Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Trollor, J., Agars, E. (2010). Systemic Inflammation and Cognition in the Elderly. In: Miyoshi, K., Morimura, Y., Maeda, K. (eds) Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53871-4_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53871-4_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-53870-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-53871-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation