Circulating inflammatory cytokine levels correlates with cognitive impairment
Leila Rasi Marzabadi, Saeed Sadigh‐Eteghad, Mahnaz Talebi
Abstract
Abstract Objective Inflammatory factors contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study assesses the correlation of peripheral inflammatory cytokines with cognitive impairment severity in AD. Method This study included 80 patients with AD, divided into three groups of mild, mild‐moderate, and moderate‐severe. Demographic data and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were recorded, and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6 levels were evaluated. Results The 30, 31, and 19 patients were categorized in three groups, respectively. There was a significant difference between levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in moderate‐severe and both mild and mild‐moderate groups. The IL‐1β level did not show significant change among groups. MMSE had significant correlation with TNF‐α ( P = .03, r = −0.23) and IL‐6 ( P = .04, r = −0.22), but not IL‐1β ( P = .46, r = −0.08) levels. Conclusion The TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels are significantly higher in patients with moderate‐severe stage of AD. Inflammatory cytokine levels might predict the cognitive impairment severity in AD patients.