Genetic variants associated with altered plasma levels of C-reactive protein are not associated with late-life cognitive ability in four Scottish samples

Behav Genet. 2010 Jan;40(1):3-11. doi: 10.1007/s10519-009-9302-z. Epub 2009 Oct 10.

Abstract

It is unknown whether the relationship between raised inflammatory biomarker levels and late-life cognitive ability is causal. We explored this issue by testing the association between genetic regulators of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and cognition. Data were analysed from four cohorts based in central Scotland (Total N = 4,782). Associations were tested between variants in the CRP gene and both plasma CRP levels and a battery of neuropsychological tests, including a vocabulary-based estimate of peak prior cognitive ability and a general (summary) cognitive factor score, or 'g'. CRP levels were associated with a number of variants in the CRP gene (SNPs), including rs1205, rs1130864, rs1800947, and rs1417938 (P range 4.2e-06 to 0.041). Higher CRP levels were also associated with vocabulary-adjusted cognitive ability, used here to estimate lifetime cognitive change (P range 1.7e-04 to 0.038). After correction for multiple testing and adjustment for age and sex, no statistically significant associations were found between the SNPs and cognition. CRP is unlikely to be a causal determinant of late-life cognitive ability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • C-Reactive Protein / biosynthesis*
  • C-Reactive Protein / genetics*
  • Cognition
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Scotland

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • C-Reactive Protein