Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Inflammatory Markers and Disability in Chinese Older Adults

Birong Dong and Bowen Sun

Background: There is growing evidence that higher levels of inflammatory markers are associated with physical decline in older persons, possibly through the catabolic effects of inflammatory markers on muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum levels of inflammatory markers and disability and physical performance in older persons. Methods: We conducted analyses of 70 adults aged 61 and older, examined serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α , MIP-1α , MIP-1β , MCP-1 , and MCP-3 from 59 patients with disability and 11 normal controls. We further categorized the 59 patients with disability into either mild (n=34), moderate (n=15) or severe disability (n=10) using the Disability Level Assessment of the Elderly. The levels of the inflammatory markers were compared amongst these groups as well as with the control. We also evaluated the relationship of several inflammatory markers and physical performance in elderly people with disability. The levels of inflammatory markers were measured by the Luminex Technology. Results: The levels of IL-6 , IL-10 , TNF-α , MIP-1α , MIP-1β , and MCP-3 in patients with disability were significantly higher than those in the control group; higher levels of the IL-6 and MCP-3 were associated with disability(P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively).The levels of IL-6, IL-10, MCP-3, MIP-1β, and TNF-α were highest in the severe disability group. Patients in the moderate disability group had higher levels of these markers compared to the mild disability group. The level of IL-6, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-1β, and TNF-α were positively correlated with the level of disability (p<0.05). The level of IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-1β, TNF-α were significantly correlated with physical performance (r=-0.444, r=-0.444, r=-0.394, r=0.413, r=-0.417, r=-0.417, respectively). Conclusions: Inflammation, measured as elevated levels of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and MCP-3, is significantly associated with disability in older persons and the levels of IL-6, MCP-3 are positively correlated with an increasing level ofof disability. Also, high levels of IL-10, MIP-1β, MCP-1, MCP-3, and TNF-α are associated with poor physical performance. The assessment of inflammatory markers may represent a useful screening test may be used as potential predictors of poor physical performance and disability.