# Role of Systemic Inflammation in Cognitive Decline: Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Prototype

> **NIH NIH R01** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2020 · $733,319

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Age-related increase in the burden of systemic inflammation is a key player and potential treatment target in
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other age-related dementias. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune hyper-
inflammatory disease and an excellent model for understanding the role of chronic inflammation and
autoimmunity in cognitive decline and the modulating effects of anti-rheumatic therapies. Longitudinal studies
on the magnitude of the risk and timing of dementia in chronic inflammatory conditions such as RA are lacking,
resulting in a substantial knowledge gap.
Chronic inflammation precedes the onset of dementia. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests a protective
effect of anti-rheumatic medications on AD. We propose to utilize data from existing cohorts of patients with RA
and matched comparators without RA (R01 AR046849) to quantify and compare the risk of dementia in RA vs.
non-RA participants and to define the role of chronic systemic inflammation in cognitive decline using RA as a
prototype. We will determine the impact of chronic systemic inflammation and anti-rheumatic treatments on
dementia in RA patients, adjusting for important confounders (age, sex, education, socio-economic status,
smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression). Additionally, using the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging
resources (U01 AG006786), we will define change of cognitive function and neuroimaging markers in patients
with RA according to the level of inflammation and use of anti-rheumatic treatments.
Successful completion of the proposed series of studies will be a key step towards understanding whether
chronic exposure to systemic inflammation has adverse cognitive effects and whether tight control of systemic
inflammation with anti-rheumatic treatments has protective effects. Our existing cohorts offer a rare opportunity
to efficiently address this knowledge gap. Potential downstream effects are significant, including new strategies
for prevention and management of dementia in patients with RA and new insights for future studies on
prevention of dementia in the general population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10029083
- **Project number:** 1R01AG068192-01
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Elena Myasoedova
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $733,319
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10029083

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10029083, Role of Systemic Inflammation in Cognitive Decline: Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Prototype (1R01AG068192-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10029083. Licensed CC0.

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