Association of elevated alpha 1-antichymotrypsin with cognitive impairment in a prospective study of the very old

Am J Psychiatry. 1998 May;155(5):698-700. doi: 10.1176/ajp.155.5.698.

Abstract

Objective: The authors investigated the relationships between concentrations of two acute-phase proteins, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (MAC), and cognitive impairment in the very old.

Method: Concentrations of ACT and MAC were determined in a prospective study using sera from medically stable elderly nursing home residents. Cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-Mental State.

Results: Concentrations of ACT were associated with greater cognitive impairment, as reflected by lower Mini-Mental State scores. This relationship did not exist for MAC.

Conclusions: These data extend previous reports that patients with Alzheimer's disease have greater concentrations of ACT in their blood by demonstrating in a diagnostically diverse nursing home population a relationship between serum ACT and mental status. Elevated serum ACT in patients with compromised mental status may reflect a cerebral acute-phase response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / analysis*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / blood
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / blood*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Dementia / blood*
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Nursing Homes
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / analysis
  • alpha-Macroglobulins / analysis

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin
  • alpha-Macroglobulins