Leukocyte-derived ratios are associated with late-life any type dementia: a cross-sectional analysis of the Mugello study

Abstract

Immunosenescence, vascular aging, and brain aging, all characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory markers, are thought to share a common pathogenetic pathway: inflamm-aging. Retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Mugello study (Tuscany, Italy), a representative Italian cohort of free-living nonagenarians. to assess the association between specific peripheral inflammation markers derived from white blood cell counts, and the diagnosis of dementia. All the variables of interest were reported for 411 subjects (110 males and 301 females) out of 475 enrolled in the study. Anamnestic dementia diagnosis was obtained from clinical certificate and confirmed by a General Practitioner, whereas leukocyte ratios were directly calculated from white blood cell counts. Body mass index and comorbidities were considered potential confounders. Diagnosis of any type dementia was certified in 73 cases (17.8%). Subjects affected by dementia were older, more frequently reported a previous stroke, had lower body mass index, and lower Mini-Mental-State-Examination score. Moreover, they had a higher lymphocyte count and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio compared to the non-demented nonagenarians. We found that higher levels of lymphocyte counts are cross-sectionally associated with a clinical diagnosis of dementia. Furthermore, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio is directly associated with any type of dementia, independently of age, sex, lymphocyte count, and comorbidities. Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio may be considered a marker of immunological changes in the brain of dementia patients; moreover, it is low-cost, and easily available, thus enabling comparisons among different studies and populations, although the timeline and the extent of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio role in dementia development must be further investigated.

Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio Is Independently Associated with Progressive Infarction in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…However, the odds of cardiovascular events in patients with early coronary heart disease manifestations were the highest in patients with an elevated LMR [ 38 ]. Lombardi et al also found that a higher LMR is directly associated with any type of clinical diagnosis of dementia [ 39 ]. Additionally, our study confirmed that a higher LMR value was an independent risk factor for PI.…”

Relationship Between Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as Well as Other Leukocyte-Derived Ratios and Carotid Plaques in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A RCSCD-TCM Study

“… 19 Standard laboratory procedures for quality control were strictly followed. 9–11 , 13 Leukocyte-derived ratios were defined as follows: NLR= NE/LYM, dNLR= NE /[WBC-NE], MLR= MO/LYM, PLR= PLT/LYM, WMR= leukocyte/mean PLT volume, MNM= LYM × NE/10 4 , SIRI= NE × MO/LYM, and SII = PLT/NE/LYM.…”

“…19 Standard laboratory procedures for quality control were strictly followed. [9][10][11]13 Leukocyte-derived ratios were defined Hospital professionals also measured the color Doppler ultrasound of the carotid artery after the patient was rested in a supine position for approximately 15 min. Bilateral common carotid arteries, bifurcation, and the internal and external carotid arteries were scanned along the direction of the blood vessels to determine the intima-media thickness (IMT).…”

“… 12 Hematological indices NLR and MLR can be regarded as significant predictors of all-cause long-term mortality after Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB) revascularization, which may be applied into clinical practice for meticulous postoperative monitoring of patients in higher risk of worse prognosis. 13 Leukocyte-derived ratios, which integrate information from the innate and adaptive immunity to avoid relying solely on the absolute value of a single leukocyte subtype caused by infection or dehydration, can be easily obtained and have a certain predictive value for disease outcomes. 14 The changes in leukocytes around the blood vessels were reported to be significantly related to inflammatory activity in the plaques.…”

Immunosenescence in Neurological Diseases—Is There Enough Evidence?

“…Dementia patients were older, had suffered stroke more frequently, and had higher peripheral blood lymphocyte counts and a higher lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. These results suggest a possible influence of the immune system, but further phenotyping on immune cells was not available [ 56 ]. One of the first studies on immunosenescence compared immunological functions in AD with elderly and young controls.…”