Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40709483›Full record

SynthesisAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2025

Cytokines and immune biomarkers in neurodegeneration and cognitive function: A systematic review among individuals of African ancestry.

Maxwell Hubert Antwi, Ansumana Bockarie, George Nkrumah Osei, David Mawutor Donkor, David Larbi Simpong

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Inflammation profiles in Alzheimer's disease relate to cognition and neurodegeneration.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Observational
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maxwell Hubert AntwiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-5997-9829
Ansumana BockarieDepartment of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0003-1173-1493
George Nkrumah OseiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0009-0002-5379-963X
David Mawutor DonkorDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0009-0005-2923-3873
David Larbi SimpongDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-9194-3762

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCytokines and immune markers are critical in mediating inflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease. This review analyzes the role of inflammatory cytokines and immune markers in neurodegeneration among African populations.

methodsFollowing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of studies examining cytokine levels in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on populations of African ancestry.

resultsCytokines like interleukin (IL)-6, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and IL-8. IL-6 emerged as a key pro-inflammatory marker linked to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline, showing stronger correlations in African ancestry populations compared to Caucasians. Genetic findings revealed triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 variants and Fc fragment of IgG receptor IIb rs1050501 genotypes as influential in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related inflammation, alongside a unique correlation between immunoglobulin G index inflammatory markers and AD in African ancestry populations. DISCUSSION: The findings emphasize the crucial role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding their variations among African populations can inform targeted therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS: Interleukin (IL)-6 was identified as a key pro-inflammatory marker, consistently linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and dementia, underscoring its significant role in neurodegenerative disease progression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were associated with improved cognitive performance, particularly in African American participants. Observational studies identified sex-based differences in IL-10 levels, particularly among older African American women. The review highlights notable ethnic differences in cytokines like IL-8, IL-1β, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors, emphasizing their roles in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in people of African descent. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 variants, immunoglobulin GM allotypes, and Fc fragment of IgG receptor IIb rs1050501 genotypes were found to influence AD-related inflammation and progression in African ancestry populations.

Indexed as

Black PeopleCognitionCognitive DysfunctionCytokinesNeurodegenerative DiseasesAlzheimer DiseaseBiomarkersHumansBiomarkersCytokinesAfrican ancestrycognitioncytokinesimmune markersneurodegeneration

Identifiers

PMID40709483
PMCPMC12290485

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.