RESEARCH ON INFLAMMATION AND MEMORY LOSS
Several newly published studies are reporting evidence affirming a growing hypothesis that links inflammation with the cognitive deficits seen in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Some research is even suggesting low-grade systemic inflammation in healthy subjects can result in mental sluggishness and memory loss. A study published in 2017, in the journal Neurology, found that having certain inflammatory markers in midlife was associated with brain shrinkage and poor memory in older age.
Researchers measured five inflammation biomarkers in about 1,600 middle-aged people and gave them brain scans and a memory test about 25 years later.
Compared with people with no elevated inflammation markers, people with high levels of three or more biomarkers scored lower on the memory test and had about 5% shrinkage in the hippocampus and other parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research has shown that when the brain is inflamed, memory formation and recall both suffer. Unfortunately, many people start to believe that scattered thoughts and trouble focusing are an inevitable part of aging—but they are not! Silent inflammation is likely the culprit.
| STUDY | RESULTS |
|---|---|
| Sartori et al., 2012 | Changes in cognitive function become more common in older adulthood, and emerging evidence has implicated heightened brain inflammation as an important factor that may contribute to and exacerbate cognitive decline among older adults. |
| Simen et al., 2011 | Although the mechanism of age-related cognitive decline is not yet known, age-related inflammatory changes are likely to play a role. |
| Ader et al., 2009 | The most common forms of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia – are associated with a chronic and exaggerated inflammatory response that may contribute to disease advancement. |
| Blasko et al., 2005 | Neuroinflammation over time is associated with risk of dementia and cardiovascular pathology, including stroke. |
| Sartori et al., 2013 | Implementation of brief screening procedures to identify those patients with a high risk of inflammation-associated cognitive impairment could be an effective starting point for early intervention and better outcomes. |
| Wichmann et al., 2014 | With data collected over 20 years, this study demonstrated greater likelihood of cognitive impairment in individuals with chronic inflammation. |