Effect of Alzheimer Caregiving on Circulating Levels of C-reactive Protein and Other Biomarkers Relevant to Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Longitudinal Study

摘要: Background: Providing care to a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may contribute cardiovascular (CVD). The acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) is well-established biomarker of an increased CVD risk. Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that dementia caregiving associated elevated circulating levels CRP and possibly other biomarkers Methods: We examined 118 elderly spousal Alzheimer caregivers 51 noncaregiving controls about once year for up 3 years. Random regression models fixed time-variant effects range covariates known affect were used evaluate changes in 12 additional measures inflammation, cellular adhesion, endothelial function, hemostasis relation status, years caregiving, major transitions situation. Results: During study period, longer duration was (p = 0.040) showed greater tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α than 0.048). Additionally, months after death AD spouse, significant drop 0.003) soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 0.008). Conclusion: Duration being caregiver per se both chronic low-grade inflammation as indicated by TNF-α levels, respectively. Conversely, lower sICAM-1 levels. findings indicate those result and, thereby,