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Serum C-reactive protein is linked to cerebral microstructural integrity and cognitive function
Wersching H, Duning T, Lohmann H, Mohammadi S, Stehling C, Fobker M, Conty M, Minnerup J et al.. Neurology, 2010-03-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation and vascular disease. It also seems to be associated with an increased risk of dementia. To better understand potential underlying mechanisms, we assessed microstructural brain integrity and cognitive performance relative to serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Methods We cross-sectionally examined 447 community-dwelling and stroke-free individuals from the Systematic Evaluation and Alteration of Risk Factors for Cognitive Health (SEARCH) Health Study (mean age 63 years, 248 female). High-field MRI was performed in 321 of these subjects. Imaging measures included fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences for assessment of white matter hyperintensities, automated quantification of brain parenchyma volumes, and diffusion tensor imaging for calculation of global and regional white matter integrity, quantified by fractional anisotropy (FA). Psychometric analyses covered verbal memory, word fluency, and executive functions. Results Higher levels of hs-CRP were associated with worse performance in executive function after adjustment for age, gender, education, and cardiovascular risk factors in multiple regression analysis (beta = -0.095, p = 0.02). Moreover, higher hs-CRP was related to reduced global fractional anisotropy (beta = -0.237, p < 0.001), as well as regional FA scores of the frontal lobes (beta = -0.246, p < 0.001), the corona radiata (beta = -0.222, p < 0.001), and the corpus callosum (beta = -0.141, p = 0.016), in particular the genu (beta = -0.174, p = 0.004). We did not observe a significant association of hs-CRP with measures of white matter hyperintensities or brain atrophy. Conclusion These data suggest that low-grade inflammation as assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with cerebral microstructural disintegration that predominantly affects frontal pathways and corresponding executive function.
Key findings
- It also seems to be associated with an increased risk of dementia.
- Results Higher levels of hs-CRP were associated with worse performance in executive function after adjustment for age, gender, education, and cardiovascular risk factors in multiple regression analysis (beta = -0.095, p = 0.02).
- We did not observe a significant association of hs-CRP with measures of white matter hyperintensities or brain atrophy.
- Conclusion These data suggest that low-grade inflammation as assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with cerebral microstructural disintegration that predominantly affects frontal pathways and corresponding executive function.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 23 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 40 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20350977) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 23 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 23 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 40 out of 100. |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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APA 7th
Wersching, H., Duning, T., Lohmann, H., Mohammadi, S., Stehling, C., Fobker, M., et al. (2010). Serum C-reactive protein is linked to cerebral microstructural integrity and cognitive function. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7b45b
Vancouver
Wersching H, Duning T, Lohmann H, Mohammadi S, Stehling C, Fobker M, et al. Serum C-reactive protein is linked to cerebral microstructural integrity and cognitive function. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7b45b. PMID: 20350977.
BibTeX
@article{wersching2010-20350977,
author = {Wersching, H. and Duning, T. and Lohmann, H. and Mohammadi, S. and Stehling, C. and Fobker, M. and Conty, M. and Minnerup, J. and others},
title = {{Serum C-reactive protein is linked to cerebral microstructural integrity and cognitive function}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7b45b},
pmid = {20350977},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7b45b}
}