Research view
Title: | Relationship of serum interleukin-6 and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia, a case–control study |
Author: | Mohamed Yousry Abdel Mohsen, Noha Sabry, Fadia Zyada, Mai Abdel Sami and Heba N. Baz |
Abstract: |
Background
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is assumed to play a role in the emergence of cognitive deficits in
schizophrenia.
Aim
The aim of this work was to assess cognitive functions in the domains of working
memory, executive functions, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention in patients
with schizophrenia and to determine its relationship to serum levels of IL-6.
Methods
Forty patients with schizophrenia recruited from the Kasr Al-Ainy psychiatric outpatient
clinic and forty healthy controls matched in age, sex, and educational level to the
patients’ group were assessed and compared as regards the level of serum IL-6.
Cognitive functions were assessed using letter cancellation test, digit symbol coding
test, digit span, visual memory span, and Wisconsin card sorting test.
Results
The mean level of serum IL-6 of the patients with schizophrenia was significantly higher
than that of the control group. Patients showed poorer performance in all cognitive
tests. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the level of
serum IL-6 and visual memory span backward score.
Conclusion
Patients with schizophrenia have higher levels of serum IL-6. They show poorer
cognitive performance in the domains of sustained attention, verbal and visual working
memory, processing speed and executive functions, and visual memory deficits. There
is a correlation between serum IL-6 and visual memory deficits in patients with
schizophrenia.
Keywords:
cognitive functions, schizophrenia, serum interleukin-6
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Journal: | Middle East Curr Psychiatry 24:181–186 |
Text: | |
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