We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of plasma cytokines during the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) stage of Lewy body disease and Alzheimer's disease, hypothesizing that cytokine levels would decrease over time and that this would be correlated with decline in cognition.

Older (≥60) people with MCI were recruited from memory services in healthcare trusts in North East England, UK. MCI was diagnosed as due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI‐AD) or Lewy body disease (MCI‐LB). Baseline and repeat annual clinical and cognitive assessments were undertaken and plasma samples were obtained at the same time. Cytokine assays were performed on all samples using the Meso Scale Discovery V‐Plex Plus Proinflammatory Panel 1, which included IFNγ, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IL‐13 and TNFα.

Fifty‐six patients (21 MCI‐AD, 35 MCI‐LB) completed prospective evaluations and provided samples up to 3 years after baseline. Six cytokines (IFNγ, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6 and IL‐10) showed highly significant (P < .002) decreases over time. AD and LB did not differ in rate of decrease nor were there any effects related to age or general morbidity. Decrease in five of these cytokines (IFNγ, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, and IL‐10) was highly correlated with decrease in cognition (P < .003).

Peripheral inflammation decreased in both disease groups during MCI suggesting this may be a therapeutic window for future anti‐inflammatory agents.