This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Vascular dementia (VAD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the two most common subtypes of dementia, collectively accounting for 90% of all dementias. Recently it has been demonstrated that a relationship exists between cardiovascular disease and diabetes and the development of VAD and AD. Metabolic syndrome (MBS) is a clustering of risk factors that are associated with a greatly increased risk of cardiovascular and diabetes. Sparse research efforts have focused on the prevalence of MBS in individuals with either type of dementia. However, the usefulness of MBS in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cognitive decline is unclear. There is emerging evidence that cognitive decline is more pronounced when MBS is accompanied by inflammation. Inflammation is reflected in 12 lipoxygenase (12-LO) activity and elevated 12-LO levels are present in a high glucose and insulin environments. Although sparse, there is evidence that 12-LO activation may occur early in the pathogenesis of AD, prior to the onset of overt dementia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of inflammatory markers and metabolic risk factors to VAD and AD. Therefore, we propose a one year prospective study of men and women over age 50 with a diagnosis of VAD or AD to investigate the prevalence of MBS and inflammatory markers, and to examine for unique risk that may be specific to each type of dementia. We hypothesize that men and women over 50 with VAD will have greater 12-LO and metabolic risk factors associated with MBS than men and women with AD. V.
SPECIFIC AIMS : 1. Compare levels of inflammatory markers: interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and 12-LO in men and women over 50 with VAD and AD.2. Compare the incidence of MBS in men and women over 50 with VAD and AD.3. Determine the usefulness of MBS and inflammatory markers as predictors of VAD and AD.
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