Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34052362›Full record

ArticleBrain, behavior, and immunity2021

Investigating whether a combination of higher CRP and depression is differentially associated with worse executive functioning in a cohort of 43,896 adults.

Naoise Mac Giollabhui, Lauren B Alloy, Lizanne J S Schweren, Catharina A Hartman

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Exercise, cognition, and affective disorders.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026
    Review
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  12. C-Reactive Protein as a Biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder?International journal of molecular sciences · 2022
    Review
  13. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Naoise Mac GiollabhuiDepartment of Psychology, Temple University, USA. Electronic address: naoise.macgiollabhui@temple.edu.
Lauren B AlloyDepartment of Psychology, Temple University, USA. Electronic address: lalloy@temple.edu.
Lizanne J S SchwerenFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.j.s.schweren@umcg.nl.
Catharina A HartmanFaculty of Medical Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.hartman@accare.nl.
Temple University · USUniversity of Groningen · NL

Funding

Depression Surge in Adolescence & Gender Differences: Biocognitive MechanismsR01MH079369 · NIMH · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · PI ABRAMSON, LYN Y, ALLOY, LAUREN BERSH · 2008 to 2012
$3.4M
Risk for Adolescent Depression: Stress, Cognitive Vulnerability, & InflammationR01MH101168 · NIMH · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · PI ALLOY, LAUREN BERSH · 2013 to 2017
$3.2M
Chronic Inflammation as a Pathway to Cognitive Dysfunction in Adolescents and Young Adults with a History of Elevated Depressive SymptomsF31MH118808 · NIMH · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · PI MAC GIOLLABHUI, NAOISE · 2019 to 2020
$67k
NIMH NIH HHS F31 MH118808NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH079369NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH101168
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Many depressed individuals experience difficulties in executive functioning that contribute substantially to functional impairment. It is unknown whether a subtype of depression characterized by chronic inflammation is differentially associated with worse executive functioning. This study examined whether the combination of depression and higher C reactive protein (CRP) is differentially associated with worse executive functioning and whether this association is stronger in older adults. This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected from a population-representative sample of 43,896 adults aged 44.13 years (SD = 13.52) who participated in the baseline assessment of the Lifelines cohort study. Multivariate regression models tested whether depressed individuals (established via structured interview) exhibiting higher levels of inflammation (indexed via high-sensitivity CRP assay following an overnight fast) performed worse on a behavioral test of executive functioning. Depression (B = -3.66, 95% CI: -4.82, -2.49, p < .001) and higher log-transformed CRP (B = -0.67, 95% CI: -0.87,-0.47, p < .001) were associated with worse executive functioning, after adjustment for age, sex, educational attainment, body mass index, smoking status, exposure to stressful life events and chronic stressors, sedentary behavior, and number of chronic medical conditions. Depressed individuals with higher log-transformed CRP exhibited differentially poorer executive functioning (B = -1.09, 95% CI: -2.07,-0.11, p < .001). This association did not differ based on age (B = 0.01, 95% CI: -0.08, 0.10, p = .82). Executive functioning is poorer in depressed individuals with higher CRP, even in early adulthood. Interventions that reduce inflammation may improve cognitive functioning in depression.

Indexed as

C-Reactive ProteinDepressionAdultAgedCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesExecutive FunctionHumansC-Reactive ProteinCognitionC-reactive proteinDepressionExecutive functioningInflammation

Identifiers

PMID34052362
PMCPMC8319077
OpenAlexW3165158658

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.