Associations between IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα polymorphisms and longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function in non-demented older adults

Karen A. Lawrence, Elana M. Gloger, Cristina N. Pinheiro, Frederick A. Schmitt, Suzanne C. Segerstrom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Inflammation is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammatory cytokine genes are associated with increased AD risk. Whether the same polymorphisms also predict domain-specific cognitive change in cognitively healthy older adults is unclear. Specific SNPs in three cytokine genes, IL-1β (rs16944), IL-6 (rs1800795), and TNFα (rs1800629) were assessed for association with longitudinal trajectories spanning up to 16 years of global cognitive function, episodic memory, attention and working memory, and executive function in a sample of 324 non-demented older adults. Only rs1800629 (TNFα) was associated with significant change in global cognitive function over time [γ = 5.22; 95% CI: 0.61, 9.83; p = 0.027]. Despite an association with AD risk, rs16944 and rs1800795 may not predict cognitive decline in cognitively healthy older adults. The presence of an A at rs1800629 (TNFα) may have broad, protective effects on cognitive function, over time. More validation studies are needed to determine whether specific cytokine SNPs are associated with respective serum levels to further understanding of AD biomarkers that may also serve as markers of cognitive decline.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100816
JournalBrain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health
Volume39
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024

Funding

This work was funded by K01AG070279 awarded to K.A. Lawrence and P30 AG072946 awarded to the University of Kentucky Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Research Center from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH\u2019s NIA. We thank Dr. Gregory A. Jicha and Dr. Donna M. Wilcock at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging for sharing cognitive and plasma biomarker data. Dr. Lawrence was supported by a Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01AG070279) from The National Institute on Aging at the NIH. The content is the sole responsibility of the authors and is not necessarily representative of the official views of the NIH.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH
National Institute on Aging
Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award

    Keywords

    • Aged
    • Attention
    • Cytokines
    • Executive function
    • Inflammation
    • Polymorphism
    • Single nucleotide

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nephrology

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