Inflammatory Protein Linked to Difficulties with Thinking Skills

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation and vascular disease that has been associated with an increased risk of dementia.  Heike Wersching, from University of Muenster (Germany), and colleagues studied 447 men and women, average age 63 years, without stroke or dementia.  The participants underwent MRI brain scans and completed tests that measured verbal memory, word fluency and executive function, the process in the brain that allows for planning, decision making and selection of appropriate behavior.  The researchers found that higher levels of CRP corresponded to worse performance in executive function. Higher levels of the protein also affected the frontal lobe of the brain, where some motor functions take place. The team concludes that: “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.”