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Interleukin-6 is associated with cognitive function: the Northern Manhattan Study
Wright CB, Sacco RL, Rundek T, Delman J, Rabbani L, Elkind M.. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association, 2006-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background and purpose Inflammation has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia but the mechanism is not clear and few studies have included Hispanic and black subjects that may be at increased risk of these disorders. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the association between inflammatory marker levels and cognition in the stroke-free population-based cohort of the Northern Manhattan Study. Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores were the continuous outcome and we adjusted for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors as well as subclinical atherosclerosis. Results Of the inflammatory markers, only interleukin (IL)-6 levels were associated with the MMSE. In univariate analysis age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, moderate alcohol use, total homocysteine, carotid intima media thickness, and body mass index were positively associated with IL-6 levels. Hispanics compared to whites, those with less than a high school education, hypertension, cardiac disease, and total homocysteine were associated with lower MMSE scores. In a multivariate linear regression model, IL-6 was negatively associated with MMSE score adjusting for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors. Conclusions IL-6 levels were negatively associated with performance on the MMSE in this multiethnic cohort. Adjusting for vascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis did not attenuate the association, suggesting a direct effect on the brain.
Key findings
- Background and purpose Inflammation has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia but the mechanism is not clear and few studies have included Hispanic and black subjects that may be at increased risk of these disorders.
- Results Of the inflammatory markers, only interleukin (IL)-6 levels were associated with the MMSE.
- In univariate analysis age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, moderate alcohol use, total homocysteine, carotid intima media thickness, and body mass index were positively associated with IL-6 levels.
- Hispanics compared to whites, those with less than a high school education, hypertension, cardiac disease, and total homocysteine were associated with lower MMSE scores.
- In a multivariate linear regression model, IL-6 was negatively associated with MMSE score adjusting for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study found that higher interleukin-6 levels were associated with lower Mini Mental State Exam scores in a multiethnic cohort. It is observational and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases: journal h-index 104 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 159 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.2 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Mitchell S.V. Elkind: h-index 110 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16501663) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.08.009
- PubMed: 16501663
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wright, C. B., Sacco, R. L., Rundek, T., Delman, J., Rabbani, L., & Elkind, M. (2006). Interleukin-6 is associated with cognitive function: the Northern Manhattan Study. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.08.009
Vancouver
Wright CB, Sacco RL, Rundek T, Delman J, Rabbani L, Elkind M. Interleukin-6 is associated with cognitive function: the Northern Manhattan Study. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2006. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.08.009. PMID: 16501663.
BibTeX
@article{wright2006-16501663,
author = {Wright, C. B. and Sacco, R. L. and Rundek, T. and Delman, J. and Rabbani, L. and Elkind, M.},
title = {{Interleukin-6 is associated with cognitive function: the Northern Manhattan Study}},
journal = {Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.08.009},
pmid = {16501663},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.08.009}
}
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