Citation

Stebbins, Rebecca C.; Edwards, Jessie K.; Plassman, Brenda L.; Yang, Yang Claire; Noppert, Grace A.; Haan, Mary N.; & Aiello, Allison E. (2021). Immune Function, Cortisol, and Cognitive Decline & Dementia in an Aging Latino Population. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 133, 105414. PMCID: PMC8600484

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The etiology of dementias and cognitive decline remain largely unknown. It is widely accepted that inflammation in the central nervous system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of dementia. However, less is known about the role of the peripheral immune system and interactions with cortisol, though evidence suggests that these, too, may play a role.
METHODS: Using data from 1337 participants aged 60+ years from the Sacramento Area Latino Study of Aging (observational cohort) we investigated variation in trajectories of cognitive decline by pathogen IgG and cytokine levels. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the association between baseline Interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and five persistent pathogens' IgG response and trajectories of cognition over 10 years, and to examine interactions between immune biomarkers and cortisol. Stratified cumulative incidence functions were used to assess the relation between biomarkers and incident dementia. Inverse probability weights accounted for loss-to-follow-up and confounding.
RESULTS: IL-6, TNF-α, and CMV IgG were statistically significantly associated with a higher log of Modified Mini-Mental State Examination errors (IL-6, β=0.0935 (95%CI: 0.055, 0.13), TNF-alpha β= 0.0944 (95%CI: 0.032, 0.157), and CMV, β= 0.0409 (95%CI: 0.013, 0.069)). Furthermore, cortisol interacted with HSV-1 and IL-6, and CRP for both cross-sectional cognitive function and rate of decline. No statistically significant relationship was detected between biomarkers and incidence of dementia.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the theory that the peripheral immune system may play a role in cognitive decline but not incident dementia. Furthermore, they identify specific markers amenable for intervention for slowing decline.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105414

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2021

Journal Title

Psychoneuroendocrinology

Author(s)

Stebbins, Rebecca C.
Edwards, Jessie K.
Plassman, Brenda L.
Yang, Yang Claire
Noppert, Grace A.
Haan, Mary N.
Aiello, Allison E.

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC8600484

Data Set/Study

Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA)

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

California

Race/Ethnicity

Hispanic/Latinx

ORCiD

Noppert - 0000-0002-2040-960x
Yang - 0000-0001-7279-1479
Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537