A March 2026 publication in Frontiers in Neurology provides clinical evidence of increases in systemic inflammation in declining Alzheimers patients.
Multiple cytokines and other serum inflammatory markers were measured in 155 Alzheimers patients, matched with 100 healthy controls, with the following results:
Key Points From Study Findings
Our work extends existing evidence by focusing exclusively on early-stage AD patients diagnosed via contemporary biomarker-supported criteria, utilizing high-sensitivity Simoa technology, and demonstrating the superior diagnostic performance of a combined inflammatory panel in a Chinese cohort. These elements strengthen the clinical relevance and novelty of our findings.
IL-6 and TNF-α, may impact the central nervous system through blood–brain barrier penetration or vagus nerve signaling, triggering microglial and astrocytic activation to drive neuroinflammation
Research by Park et al. and a recent study by Remnitz et al. found that IL-1β levels are significantly elevated in AD patients compared to those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal controls
Our study observed no significant difference in CRP levels between the two groups, which contrasts with the findings of Tachibana et al., potentially reflecting the limited sensitivity of CRP, as a non-specific acute-phase protein, in the early stages of AD, or its greater susceptibility to interference from other factors such as metabolism or concurrent infections.
Clinical Takeaways
While these cytokines shown to be elevated in progressing Alzheimers patients are not measured on routine bloodwork, we have strong evidence that systemic inflammation is associated with Alzheimer’s progression.
Therefore, lifestyle changes that we know lead to a reduction in systemic inflammation, such as reduced consumption of processed grains, sugar and alcohol may reduce Alzheimers progression, and even may improve symptoms of decline.
In my office, I also use basic hair testing for heavy metals, food sensitivities and environmental toxins to identify unseen factors that may be driving systemic inflammation. I have found that this can uncover hidden drivers of inflammation that are remove relatively easy to remove as dietary modifications are adopted over time.
References
- Liu Y, Li Y, Zheng P, Zhang B. Associations between systemic inflammatory markers and cognitive decline in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective clinical study. Front Neurol. 2026 Mar 18;17:1765287. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1765287. PMID: 41929599; PMCID: PMC13038523.