Vitamin D and inflammatory cytokines association in mild cognitive impaired subjects

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The association of low Vitamin D and chronic inflammation in the onset of cognitive decline in the elderly population has been established but the variable population-based study is still lacking. The present study aims to investigate the level of plasma Vitamin D, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, cognitive performance, and white matter changes in the elderly population in the North-Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. 70 participants with (Mean age- 75.14 ± 1.24, Male/Female- 50/20) with an Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of (24.82 ± 1.82) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MOCA) score (21.83 ± 1.75), were cognitive decline, against the 70 healthy controls (Mean Age-73.18 ± 1.43; Male/Female- 50/20) with MMSE score (28.1 ± 1.5) and MOCA (28.5 ± 1.65), White matter variable Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values in MCI subject was found significantly altered in Right temporal lobe, Corpus Callosum (Right) and Hippocampus body (Right), Hippocampus body (left), Hippocampus head (Right) and Hippocampus head (Left)as compared with healthy controls. The level of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, was significantly high in MCI subjects as compared with controls. Further lower Vitamin D level in plasma was detected in MCI as compared with healthy controls. The result from the present study depicts that chronic inflammation and lower Vitamin D level influences neurodegeneration and decline in cognitive performance in the elderly population. These variables can be used as biomarkers for early identification of AD and interventional strategies can be designed for prevention at the prodromal stage of AD.