Chronic inflammation and stress-hormones: a common pathway of cognitive disorders in ageing

Here we present the data on examining inter-connections cytokine network and stress hormones in senile vascular dementia by assessing systemic cytokine levels for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, IFNγ as well as hormones cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine in 23 subjects with vascular dementia and 40 individuals without overt cognitive impairment. It was found, that the concentrations of IL-6, TNFα, epinephrine and dopamine were significantly increased, whereas those for IL-1β, IL-10, ACTH and norepinephrine were decreased in elderly people with dementia compared to healthy aging. In addition, virtually no inter-connection between cytokine, sympathoadrenal and hypothalamicpituitary (HPA-axis) axis was observed in vascular dementia highlighted by no significant correlation within the cytokine network. However, a single positive intrahormonal link for cortisol-ACTH and two positive links between IFNγ and cortisol/adrenaline level were detected. In general, vascular dementia was featured by marked inflammatory reaction, excessive activation of stress hormone production and disconnection of cytokine network, HPA-axis and the sympathoadrenal medullary system.