Positive association between plasma amylin and cognition in a homebound elderly population.

Abstract

Our recent study reported that amylin, a pancreatic peptide that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, improves learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease mouse models. However, the relationship between peripheral amylin and cognition in humans is unknown. In this follow-up study, using a cross-sectional, homebound elderly population, improvement in cognitive function with increasing quartiles of plasma amylin was suggested by positive association with verbal memory (p = 0.0002) and visuoconstruction tasks (p = 0.004), and inverse association with timed measures of attention (p < 0.0001) and executive function (p = 0.04). After adjusting for demographic information, apolipoprotein E4 allele, diabetes, stroke, kidney function, and lipid profile, log10 of plasma amylin remained associated with these cognitive domains. In contrast, plasma amyloid-β peptide was not associated with these specific cognitive domains. Our study suggests that peripheral amylin may be protective for cognitive decline, especially in the domains affected by Alzheimer's disease.

• Authors: Wei Qiao Qiu, Rhoda Au, Haihao Zhu, Max Wallack, Elizabeth Liebson, Huajie Li, James Rosenzweig, Mkaya Mwamburi, Robert A Stern
• Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD (J Alzheimers Dis) Vol. 42 Issue 2 Pg. 555-63 ( 2014) ISSN: 1875-8908 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24898659 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins E
• Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Amyloidosis, Familial (blood)
• Apolipoproteins E (genetics)
• Attention (physiology)
• Cognition (physiology)
• Community Health Planning
• Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary (blood)
• Female
• Genotype
• Geriatric Assessment
• Home Care Services (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (blood)
• Learning (physiology)
• Male
• Mental Status Schedule
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Verbal Behavior (physiology)