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Plasma MCP-1 and changes on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults
Sanchez-Sanchez JL, Giudici KV, Guyonnet S, Delrieu J, Li Y, Bateman RJ, Parini A, Vellas B et al.. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2022-01-07
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), a glial-derived chemokine, mediates neuroinflammation and may regulate memory outcomes among older adults. We aimed to explore the associations of plasma MCP-1 levels (alone and in combination with β-amyloid deposition-Aβ 42/40 ) with overall and domain-specific cognitive evolution among older adults. Methods Secondary analyses including 1097 subjects (mean age = 75.3 years ± 4.4; 63.8% women) from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT). MCP-1 (higher is worse) and Aβ 42/40 (lower is worse) were measured in plasma collected at year 1. MCP-1 in continuous and as a dichotomy (values in the highest quartile (MCP-1 + )) were used, as well as a dichotomy of Aβ 42/40 . Outcomes were measured annually over 4 years and included the following: cognitive composite z-score (CCS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) sum of boxes (overall cognitive function); composite executive function z-score, composite attention z-score, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT - memory). Results Plasma MCP-1 as a continuous variable was associated with the worsening of episodic memory over 4 years of follow-up, specifically in measures of free and cued delayed recall. MCP-1 + was associated with worse evolution in the CCS (4-year between-group difference: β = -0.14, 95%CI = -0.26, -0.02) and the CDR sum of boxes (2-year: β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.06, 0.32). In domain-specific analyses, MCP-1 + was associated with declines in the FCSRT delayed recall sub-domains. In the presence of low Aβ 42/40 , MCP-1 + was not associated with greater declines in cognitive functions. The interaction with continuous biomarker values Aβ 42/40 × MCP-1 × time was significant in models with CDR sum of boxes and FCSRT DTR as dependent variables. Conclusions Baseline plasma MCP-1 levels were associated with longitudinal declines in overall cognitive and episodic memory performance in older adults over a 4-year follow-up. How plasma MCP-1 interacts with Aβ 42/40 to determine cognitive decline at different stages of cognitive decline/dementia should be clarified by further research. The MCP-1 association on cognitive decline was strongest in those with amyloid plaques, as measured by blood plasma Aβ 42/40.
Key findings
- We aimed to explore the associations of plasma MCP-1 levels (alone and in combination with β-amyloid deposition-Aβ 42/40 ) with overall and domain-specific cognitive evolution among older adults.
- Outcomes were measured annually over 4 years and included the following: cognitive composite z-score (CCS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) sum of boxes (overall cognitive function); composite executive function z-score, composite attention z-score, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT - memory).
- Results Plasma MCP-1 as a continuous variable was associated with the worsening of episodic memory over 4 years of follow-up, specifically in measures of free and cued delayed recall.
- MCP-1 + was associated with worse evolution in the CCS (4-year between-group difference: β = -0.14, 95%CI = -0.26, -0.02) and the CDR sum of boxes (2-year: β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.06, 0.32).
- In domain-specific analyses, MCP-1 + was associated with declines in the FCSRT delayed recall sub-domains.
Why it matters
In 1097 older adults from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT), higher blood levels of MCP-1, a protein that signals inflammation, were associated with faster decline in episodic memory and overall thinking over 4 years. How MCP-1 interacts with amyloid, measured in blood as Aβ 42/40, still needs to be clarified. The finding points to MCP-1 as a possible marker of decline, not a proven cause.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,097
- Effect size63.8%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer's research & therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over 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 | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,097 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 24 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Stéphane Lehéricy: h-index 107 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34996522) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2
- PubMed: 34996522
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sanchez-Sanchez, J. L., Giudici, K. V., Guyonnet, S., Delrieu, J., Li, Y., Bateman, R. J., et al. (2022). Plasma MCP-1 and changes on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Alzheimer's research & therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2
Vancouver
Sanchez-Sanchez JL, Giudici KV, Guyonnet S, Delrieu J, Li Y, Bateman RJ, et al. Plasma MCP-1 and changes on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Alzheimer's research & therapy. 2022. doi:10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2. PMID: 34996522.
BibTeX
@article{sanchezsanchez2022-34996522,
author = {Sanchez-Sanchez, J. L. and Giudici, K. V. and Guyonnet, S. and Delrieu, J. and Li, Y. and Bateman, R. J. and Parini, A. and Vellas, B. and others},
title = {{Plasma MCP-1 and changes on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults}},
journal = {Alzheimer's research \& therapy},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2},
pmid = {34996522},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2}
}
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