Elevated C-Reactive Protein Is Associated with Cognitive Decline in Outpatients of a General Hospital: The Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST)

Background/Aims: We aimed to determine whether the concentration of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cognitive function in an adult Japanese population. Methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study were from a subgroup of the Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST; n = 454; mean age, 70.5 years). The cognitive state was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and those with an MMSE score APOE allele. Results: Of the 454 participants, 94 (20.7%) were cognitively declined. Relative to the lowest (first) quartile of CRP concentration, adjusted ORs were 1.29 (95% CI 0.61-2.75) for the second, 1.78 (95% CI 0.82-3.86) for the third, and 3.05 (95% CI 1.45-6.42) for the highest (fourth) quartiles (p for trend = 0.018). When data were stratified by sex, the association between CRP concentration and cognitive decline was observed only in women. Conclusion: Our findings suggest an association between higher CRP concentration and lower cognitive function. Chronic inflammation may affect cognitive function in adults, in particular women.