Impact of hs-CRP concentration on brain structure alterations and cognitive trajectory in Alzheimer’s disease
Ye Zhang, Yasuko Tatewaki, Taizen Nakase, Yingxu Liu, Naoki Tomita, Benjamin Thyreau, Haixia Zheng, Michiho Muranaka, Yumi Takano, Tatsuo Nagasaka, Yasuyuki Taki
Abstract
Introduction Present study was to investigate hs-CRP concentration, brain structural alterations, and cognitive function in the context of AD [Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD]. Methods We retrospectively included 313 patients (Mean age = 76.40 years, 59 SCD, 101 MCI, 153 AD) in a cross-sectional analysis and 91 patients (Mean age = 75.83 years, 12 SCD, 43 MCI, 36 AD) in a longitudinal analysis. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to investigate the relationship between hs-CRP concentration and brain structural alterations, and cognitive function, respectively. Results Hs-CRP was positively associated with gray matter volume in the left fusiform (β = 0.16, p FDR = 0.023) and the left parahippocampal gyrus (β = 0.16, p FDR = 0.029). Post hoc analysis revealed that these associations were mainly driven by patients with MCI and AD. The interaction of diagnosis and CRP was significantly associated with annual cognitive changes (β = 0.43, p = 0.008). Among these patients with AD, lower baseline CRP was correlated with greater future cognitive decline ( r = −0.41, p = 0.013). Conclusion Our study suggests that increased hs-CRP level may exert protective effect on brain structure alterations and future cognitive changes among patients already with cognitive impairment.