Serum levels of IL-6 are associated with cognitive impairment in the salus in apulia population-based study
Chiara Griseta,
Petronilla Battista,
Fabio Castellana,
Isabella Colonna,
Sabrina Sciarra,
Roberta Zupo,
Ilaria Bortone,
Luisa Lampignano,
Sarah Tirelli,
Giuseppe Berardino,
Anita Mollica,
Madia Lozupone,
Francesco Panza,
Pietro Fiore,
Brigida Minafra,
Rodolfo Sardone
Affiliations
Chiara Griseta
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Bari Institute, Italy
Petronilla Battista
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Bari Institute, Italy
Fabio Castellana
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Isabella Colonna
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari Institute, Italy; Corresponding author. Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari Institute, Italy, Via Generale Bellomo, Bari, 70124, Italy.
Sabrina Sciarra
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Roberta Zupo
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Ilaria Bortone
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Luisa Lampignano
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Sarah Tirelli
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Giuseppe Berardino
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Anita Mollica
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Madia Lozupone
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Francesco Panza
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Pietro Fiore
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari Institute, Italy
Brigida Minafra
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari Institute, Italy
Rodolfo Sardone
National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis,” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
Growing evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to brain aging and neurodegeneration. This study investigates the relationship between global cognitive as well executive function and the inflammatory markers IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α in a population-based study of older adults. A population-based sample, of older people in Southern Italy, was enrolled. We measured serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α. We also administered two neuropsychological tests: Mini-Mental State Examination and Frontal Assessment Battery. Rank-based regression models were performed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and cognitive functions, including major demographic and clinical confounders for adjustment. The sample consisted of 1929 subjects aged between 65 and 95 years. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that higher serum levels of IL-6 were associated with lower MMSE and FAB scores even after adjustment for demographic data and cardiovascular risk factors. No significant associations were found between cognitive functioning and serum levels of CRP and TNF-α. Our results suggest that higher levels of IL-6 were associated with cognitive impairment in an older adult population of Southern Italy.
