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Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Chi GC, Fitzpatrick AL, Sharma M, Jenny NS, Lopez OL, DeKosky ST.. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2017-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Vascular risk factors, including inflammation, may contribute to dementia development. We investigated the associations between peripheral inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive decline in five domains (memory, construction, language, psychomotor speed, and executive function). Methods Community-dwelling older adults from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (n = 1,159, aged 75 or older) free of dementia at baseline were included and followed for up to 7 years. Ten biomarkers were measured at baseline representing different sources of inflammation: vascular inflammation (pentraxin 3 and serum amyloid P), endothelial function (endothelin-1), metabolic function (adiponectin, resistin, and plasminogen activating inhibitor-1), oxidative stress (receptor for advanced glycation end products), and general inflammation (interleukin-6, interleukin-2, and interleukin-10). A combined z-score was created from these biomarkers to represent total inflammation across these sources. We utilized generalized estimating equations that included an interaction term between z-scores and time to assess effect of inflammation on cognitive decline, adjusting for demographics (such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex), cardiovascular risk factors, and apolipoprotein E ε4 carrier status. A Bonferroni-adjusted significance level of .01 was used. We explored associations between individual biomarkers and cognitive decline without adjustment for multiplicity. Results The combined inflammation z-score was significantly associated with memory and psychomotor speed (p Conclusion Our results suggest that total inflammation is associated with memory and psychomotor speed. In particular, systemic inflammation, vascular inflammation, and altered endothelial function may play roles in domain-specific cognitive decline of nondemented individuals.
Key findings
- Results The combined inflammation z-score was significantly associated with memory and psychomotor speed (p Conclusion Our results suggest that total inflammation is associated with memory and psychomotor speed.
Why it matters
In 1,159 dementia-free adults aged 75 or older from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study, followed for up to 7 years, a combined score of ten blood inflammation markers was significantly associated with decline in memory and psychomotor speed. The authors suggest systemic and blood-vessel inflammation and endothelial function may play roles in specific kinds of cognitive decline. Because this is an association, it flags inflammation as a possible target rather than showing that reducing it protects memory.
Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants1,159
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series A: journal h-index 274 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,159 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 60 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.5 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 17 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Steven T. DeKosky: h-index 132 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27522059) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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APA 7th
Chi, G. C., Fitzpatrick, A. L., Sharma, M., Jenny, N. S., Lopez, O. L., & DeKosky, S. T. (2017). Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw155
Vancouver
Chi GC, Fitzpatrick AL, Sharma M, Jenny NS, Lopez OL, DeKosky ST. Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2017. doi:10.1093/gerona/glw155. PMID: 27522059.
BibTeX
@article{chi2017-27522059,
author = {Chi, G. C. and Fitzpatrick, A. L. and Sharma, M. and Jenny, N. S. and Lopez, O. L. and DeKosky, S. T.},
title = {{Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Older Adults}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1093/gerona/glw155},
pmid = {27522059},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw155}
}
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