High interleukin‐6 plasma levels are associated with functional impairment in older patients with Vascular dementia

In older individuals, inflammatory mechanisms have been linked to the pathogenesis of both dementia and functional impairment. In this cross‐sectional study we have investigated the possible association between some markers of systemic inflammation and functional status, in a sample of one hundred and forty older demented patients including 60 patients with late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and 80 with vascular dementia (VD). Functional status was evaluated by Barthel Index (BI); the total score ranged from 0 (total dependency) to 20 (total autonomy). Interleukin‐1β, Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α, Interleukin‐ 6, Interleukin‐ 8, and Transforming Grow Factor β were quantified by ELISA. Among the cytokines evaluated, only IL‐6 was correlated with the BI (r: −0.32, p < 0.001). The mean levels of IL‐6 progressively decreased from I (9.50 pg/mL), to II (6.40 pg/mL), to III BI tertile (4.80 pg/mL) (p < 0.02).