A Key Protein’s Impact on Cognitive Impairment in Brain Disease

Published on June 22, 2023

In the world of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), researchers are exploring the relationship between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), the level of serum High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1), and cognitive impairment. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other techniques, scientists have observed that higher levels of HMGB1 are associated with more severe CMBs and greater cognitive impairment in CSVD patients. The study also identifies other risk factors for cognitive impairment such as uric acid, glycosylated hemoglobin, and a history of hypertension. These findings suggest that HMGB1 may serve as a potential biomarker for identifying and intervening in the development of vascular cognitive impairment. The research opens up exciting possibilities for early clinical interventions and tailored treatments for individuals at risk of cognitive decline. For more information on this fascinating study, check out the original research article.

ObjectiveThe study investigated the correlation and predictive value between the severity of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and the level of serum High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1) and the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).MethodsA total of 139 patients with CSVD admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from December 2020 to December 2022 were selected as study subjects. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale was used to assess the cognitive function and was divided into the cognitive impairment group and the cognitive normal group. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) were used to screen and assess the severity of CMBs. Serum HMGB1 levels of CSVD patients were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore risk factors for cognitive impairment and CMBs. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between HMGB1 and cognitive function. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were used to assess the predictive value of HMGB1 for the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with CMBs.ResultsHigh Mobility Group Protein B1, uric acid (UA), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), CMBs, lacunar cerebral infarction (LI), years of education, and history of hypertension were risk factors for cognitive impairment (P < 0.05); HMGB1 was significantly and negatively associated with total MoCA score, visuospatial/executive ability, and delayed recall ability (P < 0.05). HMGB1 was significantly and positively correlated with the number of CMBs (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve for HMGB1 predicting cognitive impairment in patients with CMBs was 0.807 (P < 0.001).ConclusionSerum HMGB1 levels are associated with the development of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients, and serum HMGB1 levels have a high predictive value for the development of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients with combined CMBs, which can be used for early clinical identification and intervention of vascular cognitive impairment.

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