INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 02 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 08:00 am - 09:15 am Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 02: Aging \| MCI \| Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1 Final Abstract #86 Elevated Neuroinflammatory Cytokine Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) Found in Individuals with MCI and a History of TBI Compared to Individuals with MCI Alone Adriana Savettiere, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States Sarah Langdon, Palo Alto Unviersity, Palo Alto, United States Peter Louras, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States Danna Torres, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States J. Kaci Fairchild, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, United States Category: Acquired Brain Injury (TBI/Cerebrovascular Injury and Disease - Adult) Keyword 1: mild cognitive impairment Keyword 2: neuroimmunology Objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a significant risk factor for neurocognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, and according to the 2020 US Census is present in 22.7% of older adults. Research shows that a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can promote an earlier onset of MCI diagnosis. However, TBI history has not been shown to affect disease progression after diagnosis. The mechanisms by which individuals with TBI may develop MCI at a younger age are not yet fully understood. However, given the overlap of chronic neuroinflammation in TBI and MCI, researchers have suggested a potential link in these processes. To our knowledge, no studies have compared neuroinflammation in individuals with MCI and a history of TBI (MCI TBI+) to those with MCI alone (MCI TBI−). Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to identify potential mechanisms by which TBI history may lead to an earlier diagnosis of MCI by comparing significant differences in neuroinflammation-related plasma protein levels in older adults with MCI TBI+ to MCI TBI−. Participants and Methods: The sample included 65 older adults with amnestic MCI, ages 55-88 years (mean 71.11 ± 8.65). Participants were predominantly male (95%), White (69%), and had more than high school education (95%). All participants completed a battery of neuropsychological assessments, including the Digit Span subtests from the WAIS 4^th edition, Trail Making Test, Stroop Color Word Test, and Symbol Digits Modalities Test. Baseline plasma protein levels were analyzed from whole blood samples, using disease-specific panels from the SomaScan Assay (SomaLogic, Inc.). Analytes belonging to the ‘Neuroscience’ panel, and either the ‘Cytokines’ or ‘Inflammation and Immune Response’ panels, were selected for their established link with neuroinflammation-related mechanisms. Group differences were assessed using independent t-tests and ANCOVAs. Results: Mean age for individuals with MCI TBI+ (mean age = 63.60 ± 10.21) was significantly younger than individuals with MCI TBI− (mean age = 71.73 ± 8.30), (t= 2.07, p= 0.042). Controlling for age, concentrations of Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) were significantly elevated in MCI TBI+ individuals compared to MCI TBI−. No significant differences were observed across cognitive measures. Conclusions: Older adults with MCI and TBI+ were on average eight years younger than individuals with MCI alone, while no significant cognitive differences were observed between groups. Furthermore, CNTF concentration levels were significantly higher in the MCI TBI+ group compared to MCI TBI−. Findings support previous research that suggests TBI promotes earlier MCI development and suggest a potential mechanism linking TBI to earlier MCI development. CNTF is a cytokine known for trophic effects but has also been identified as an immune response regulator that has pro-inflammatory effects on the central nervous system. While neuroinflammation has been explored in MCI and TBI separately, observing these significant differences in an MCI cohort helps to understand how TBI and neuroinflammation may impact diagnosis. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings with a larger sample size and explore additional mechanisms related to these disease processes.

Poster

02/15/2024
08:00 am - 09:15 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 02: Aging | MCI | Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1

Final Abstract #86

Elevated Neuroinflammatory Cytokine Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) Found in Individuals with MCI and a History of TBI Compared to Individuals with MCI Alone

Adriana Savettiere, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States
Sarah Langdon, Palo Alto Unviersity, Palo Alto, United States
Peter Louras, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, United States
Danna Torres, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, United States
J. Kaci Fairchild, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, United States

Category: Acquired Brain Injury (TBI/Cerebrovascular Injury and Disease - Adult)

Keyword 1: mild cognitive impairment
Keyword 2: neuroimmunology

Objective:

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a significant risk factor for neurocognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, and according to the 2020 US Census is present in 22.7% of older adults. Research shows that a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can promote an earlier onset of MCI diagnosis. However, TBI history has not been shown to affect disease progression after diagnosis. The mechanisms by which individuals with TBI may develop MCI at a younger age are not yet fully understood. However, given the overlap of chronic neuroinflammation in TBI and MCI, researchers have suggested a potential link in these processes. To our knowledge, no studies have compared neuroinflammation in individuals with MCI and a history of TBI (MCI TBI+) to those with MCI alone (MCI TBI−). Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to identify potential mechanisms by which TBI history may lead to an earlier diagnosis of MCI by comparing significant differences in neuroinflammation-related plasma protein levels in older adults with MCI TBI+ to MCI TBI−.

Participants and Methods:

The sample included 65 older adults with amnestic MCI, ages 55-88 years (mean 71.11 ± 8.65). Participants were predominantly male (95%), White (69%), and had more than high school education (95%). All participants completed a battery of neuropsychological assessments, including the Digit Span subtests from the WAIS 4^th edition, Trail Making Test, Stroop Color Word Test, and Symbol Digits Modalities Test. Baseline plasma protein levels were analyzed from whole blood samples, using disease-specific panels from the SomaScan Assay (SomaLogic, Inc.). Analytes belonging to the ‘Neuroscience’ panel, and either the ‘Cytokines’ or ‘Inflammation and Immune Response’ panels, were selected for their established link with neuroinflammation-related mechanisms. Group differences were assessed using independent t-tests and ANCOVAs.

Results:

Mean age for individuals with MCI TBI+ (mean age = 63.60 ± 10.21) was significantly younger than individuals with MCI TBI− (mean age = 71.73 ± 8.30), (t= 2.07, p= 0.042). Controlling for age, concentrations of Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) were significantly elevated in MCI TBI+ individuals compared to MCI TBI−. No significant differences were observed across cognitive measures.

Conclusions:

Older adults with MCI and TBI+ were on average eight years younger than individuals with MCI alone, while no significant cognitive differences were observed between groups. Furthermore, CNTF concentration levels were significantly higher in the MCI TBI+ group compared to MCI TBI−. Findings support previous research that suggests TBI promotes earlier MCI development and suggest a potential mechanism linking TBI to earlier MCI development. CNTF is a cytokine known for trophic effects but has also been identified as an immune response regulator that has pro-inflammatory effects on the central nervous system. While neuroinflammation has been explored in MCI and TBI separately, observing these significant differences in an MCI cohort helps to understand how TBI and neuroinflammation may impact diagnosis. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings with a larger sample size and explore additional mechanisms related to these disease processes.