ArticleNeurology2021
DNA Methylation and Protein Markers of Chronic Inflammation and Their Associations With Brain and Cognitive Aging.
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In one paragraph
Article in Neurology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 72 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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72citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
5.0field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
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Who cites it
72 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 97 citations in OpenAlex.
- Epigenetic scores of blood-based proteins as biomarkers of general cognitive function and brain health.Clinical epigenetics · 2024Pooled it
- Epigenetic aging and DNA methylation biomarker changes following ketamine treatment in patients with MDD and PTSD: a pilot study.Translational psychiatry · 2025Trial
- DNA Methylation of BDNF and RASA2 Genes Is Associated With Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer.Oncology nursing forum · 2024Trial
- DNA methylation-based surrogate markers of C-reactive protein and their associations with health-related traits.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Protein epigenetic scores derived in neonatal saliva as biomarkers of childhood cognition.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Plasma inflammatory markers and brain white matter microstructure in late middle-aged and older adults.Neurobiology of aging · 2026Article
- DNA methylation signatures of inflammation in youth living with perinatally-acquired HIV.Clinical epigenetics · 2026Article
- Article
- Inflammatory protein epigenetic scores (EpiScores) and cognitive function in the longitudinal Swedish adoption/twin study of aging (SATSA).GeroScience · 2026Article
- Non-invasive epigenetic protein signatures associated with childhood obesity.Clinical epigenetics · 2026Article
- Epigenetic age acceleration and mortality among persons with poorly controlled HIV.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026Article
- Epigenetic aging is a hallmark of HIV pathogenesis and phenotypic outcomes.Current HIV/AIDS reports · 2026Review
- OMICmAge quantifies biological age by integrating multi-omics with electronic medical records.Nature aging · 2026Article
- Association of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 with tau pathology, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline: a longitudinal study.BMC medicine · 2026Article
- Sensory impairments and epigenetic aging: insights from self-rated hearing and vision in United States adults.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Effects of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein and BMI on cognitive dysfunction in first-episode and drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Cortical mean diffusivity detects early age-related changes and associates with cognition and plasma biomarkers.Brain communications · 2026Article
- Longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms in children are associated with baseline inflammation and HIV status.Communications health · 2026Article
- Methylome-wide association studies and epigenetic biomarker development for 133 mass spectrometry-assessed circulating proteins in 14,671 Generation Scotland participants.Genome biology · 2025Article
- Effects of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and left ventricular hypertrophy on cognitive function in hemodialysis patients.Renal failure · 2025Article
12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Eleanor L S ConoleFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK. eleanor.conole@ed.ac.uk.
Anna J StevensonFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0435-3562
Susana Muñoz ManiegaFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5185-6384
Sarah E HarrisFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4941-5106
Claire GreenFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2146-8545
Maria Del C Valdés HernándezFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2771-6546
Mathew A HarrisFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.
Mark E BastinFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0490-0845
Joanna M WardlawFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9812-6642
Ian J DearyFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.
Veronique E MironFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1738-0647
Heather C WhalleyFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4505-8869
Riccardo E MarioniFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-4430-4260
Simon R CoxFrom the Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, Department of Psychology (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., S.E.H., M.d.C.V.H., M.A.H., J.M.W., I.J.D., R.E.M., S.R.C.), Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (E.L.S.C., A.J.S., R.E.M.), Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.L.S.C., S.M.M., M.d.C.V.H., M.E.B., J.M.W., H.C.W.), UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School (A.J.S., V.E.M.), Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital (C.G., M.A.H., H.C.W.), and The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter (V.E.M.), University of Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-4036-3642
S.P.E.C.I.E.S. · US
Funding
Evaluating Longitudinal Changes in the Human Structural Connectome in Relation to Cognitive AgingR01AG054628 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI TUCKER-DROB, ELLIOT MAX · 2017 to 2021
$2.7MBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilMedical Research Council G0700704Medical Research Council G0701120Medical Research Council G1001245Medical Research Council MC_PC_17209Medical Research Council MR/K026992/1Medical Research Council MR/M013111/1Medical Research Council MR/M020827/1Medical Research Council MR/R024065/1Medical Research Council MR/V031260/1NIA NIH HHS R01 AG054628Wellcome Trust 108890/Z/15/ZWellcome Trust 203771/Z/16/ZWellcome Trust 221890/Z/20/Z
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesTo investigate chronic inflammation in relation to cognitive aging by comparison of an epigenetic and serum biomarker of C-reactive protein and their associations with neuroimaging and cognitive outcomes.
methodsAt baseline, participants (n = 521) were cognitively normal, around 73 years of age (mean 72.4, SD 0.716), and had inflammation, vascular risk (cardiovascular disease history, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index), and neuroimaging (structural and diffusion MRI) data available. Baseline inflammatory status was quantified by a traditional measure of peripheral inflammation-serum C-reactive protein (CRP)-and an epigenetic measure (DNA methylation [DNAm] signature of CRP). Linear models were used to examine the inflammation-brain health associations; mediation analyses were performed to interrogate the relationship between chronic inflammation, brain structure, and cognitive functioning.
resultsWe demonstrate that DNAm CRP shows significantly (on average 6.4-fold) stronger associations with brain health outcomes than serum CRP. DNAm CRP is associated with total brain volume (β = -0.197, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.28 to -0.12, DISCUSSION: These results support the hypothesis that chronic inflammation may contribute to neurodegenerative brain changes that underlie differences in cognitive ability in later life and highlight the potential of DNAm proxies for indexing chronic inflammatory status. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that a DNAm signature of CRP levels is more strongly associated with brain health outcomes than serum CRP levels.
Indexed as
Cognitive AgingDNA MethylationAgingBiomarkersBrainC-Reactive ProteinHumansInflammationBiomarkersC-Reactive Protein
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