Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Brain Damage in Mexican Women over 60 Years of Age with Obesity

Abstract

Background: Obesity and aging are risk factors for chronic degenerative diseases that favor neuroinflammation leading to cognitive and motor impairment. Mexico ranks second in obesity worldwide, being more prevalent in the female population. Objectives: To determine whether serum biomarkers of obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and brain damage vary according to age, sex, and ethnicity, we studied Mexican elderly women with obesity since this population has been historically neglected. Methods: A total of 156 women over 60 years of age (89 obese and 67 non-obese) were selected from the FraDySMex-2019 Cohort study samples. Serum markers of inflammation (Interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-10, adiponectin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPAR-γ]), and neurodegeneration (glial fibrillary acidic protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and S100B), redox status (GSH/GSSG ratio), and protein oxidative damage were assessed. A biochemical profile was obtained and used for a factor analysis including their morphometric data. Results: The data from the participating elderly women clustered in relation to their obesity characteristics. The markers that were higher in obese women were GSSG, protein carbonylation, IL-6, and S100B, along with lower levels of adiponectin and PPAR-γ, suggesting they could be interesting biomarkers of neuroinflammation in obese Mexican women. Conclusion: Further case-control studies must be implemented to validate their prognosis value in elderly obese Mexican women with cognitive impairment. (Rev Invest Clin. 2025;77(1):13-25).

Keywords: Adiponectin; Inflammaging; Obesity; PAR-γ; Redox-status; S100B.