Journal
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 10, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00236
Keywords
systemic inflammation; IL-6; cognitive aging; processing speed; moderated mediation
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Funding
- Department of Psychology at University of Florida
- McKnight Brain Research Foundation
- University of Florida Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory
- University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science pilot award (NIH/NCATS) [UL1 TR000064]
- Scientific Research Network on Decision Neuroscience and Aging pilot award (NIH/NIA) [R24 AG039350]
- NIH [P30AG028740]
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The association between systemic inflammation and cognitive deficits is well-documented. Further, previous studies have shown that systemic inflammation levels increase with age. The present study took a novel approach by examining the extent to which systemic inflammation levels mediated age-related cognitive decline. Forty-seven young and 46 older generally healthy adults completed two cognitive tasks measuring processing speed and short-term memory, respectively. Serum concentrations of three inflammatory biomarkers (including interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP)) were measured in each participant. Both cognitive measures showed age-related deficits. In addition, levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were elevated with age. IL-6 partially mediated the difference in processing speed between the young and the older participant age group; there was no mediation effect for TNF-alpha and CRP. Considering chronological age, IL-6 partially accounted for age-related impairment in processing speed within older but not young participants. No effects were found for short-term memory. Evidence from this research supports the role of inflammatory processes in age-related cognitive decline. Processes involved in this mediation and differences in inflammatory influence on specific cognitive functions are discussed.
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