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Multicenter Study
. 2016 Sep;42(5):1290-302.
doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw029. Epub 2016 May 3.

Chronic Peripheral Inflammation is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia: Results From the Multicentric FACE-SZ Dataset

Ewa Bulzacka  1 , Laurent Boyer  2 , Franck Schürhoff  3 , Ophélia Godin  4 , Fabrice Berna  5 , Lore Brunel  1 , Méja Andrianarisoa  1 , Bruno Aouizerate  6 , Delphine Capdevielle  7 , Isabelle Chéreau-Boudet  3 , Gabrielle Chesnoy-Servanin  8 , Jean-Marie Danion  5 , Caroline Dubertret  9 , Julien Dubreucq  10 , Catherine Faget  11 , Franck Gabayet  10 , Tifenn Le Gloahec  1 , Pierre-Michel Llorca  3 , Jasmina Mallet  9 , David Misdrahi  12 , Romain Rey  8 , Raphaëlle Richieri  11 , Christine Passerieux  13 , Paul Roux  13 , Hanan Yazbek  7 , Marion Leboyer  1 , Guillaume Fond  14 ; FACE-SZ (FondaMental Academic Centers of Expertise for Schizophrenia) Group
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Chronic Peripheral Inflammation is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia: Results From the Multicentric FACE-SZ Dataset

Ewa Bulzacka et al. Schizophr Bull. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Objectives: Inflammation, measured by abnormal blood C-reactive protein (CRP) level, has been described in schizophrenia (SZ), being inconsistently related to impaired cognitive functions. The aim of the present study is to investigate cognitive impairment associated with abnormal CRP levels in a large multi-centric sample of community-dwelling SZ patients, using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.

Method: Three hundred sixty-nine community-dwelling stable SZ subjects (76.2% men, mean age 32.7 y) were included and tested with a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Abnormal CRP level was defined as >3mg/L.

Results: Multiple factor analysis revealed that abnormal CRP levels, found in 104 patients (28.2%), were associated with impaired General Intellectual Ability and Abstract Reasoning (aOR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90, P = .014), independently of age, sex, education level, psychotic symptomatology, treatments, and addiction comorbidities. Abnormal CRP levels were also associated with the decline of all components of working memory (respectively effect size [ES] = 0.25, P = .033; ES = 0.27, P = .04; ES = 0.33, P = .006; and ES = 0.38, P = .004) and a wide range of other impaired cognitive functions, including memory (ES = 0.26, P = .026), learning abilities (ES = 0.28, P = .035), semantic memory (ES = 0.26, P = .026), mental flexibility (ES = 0.26, P = .044), visual attention (ES = 0.23, P = .004) and speed of processing (ES = 0.23, P = .043).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that abnormal CRP level is associated with cognitive impairment in SZ. Evaluating the effectiveness of neuroprotective anti-inflammatory strategies is needed in order to prevent cognitive impairment in SZ.

Keywords: C-reactive protein (CRP); cognition; cognitive impairment; inflammation; schizophrenia.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Cognitive impairment associated with chronic peripheral inflammation in schizophrenia (measured by C-Reactive protein [CRP] blood levels ≥3mg/L).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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