New study connects inflammation to memory problems later in life

The inflammation can sometimes seem to be a mysterious force causing all kinds of health problems, but many scientists explain how it can cause fatigue, poor digestion and even mood disorders. This time, however, researchers have discovered a new connection with cognitive decline.

The researchers found that those who live with chronic inflammation have poorer memory and thinking skills than those who do not. The study, published Thursday in the newspaper Neurology, followed more than 12,000 adults, on average 57 years old for 20 years, measuring their cognitive skills at the beginning of the study, in the middle and at the end. The researchers also took note of some markers of inflammation in the blood.

People with high levels of inflammation showed an 8 to 12% decrease in their cognitive abilities over time, with memory abilities being the most affected. The researchers even took into account other factors, such as education and heart health, so that the inflammation was really causing the problem.

Unlike acute inflammation caused by injury (swelling of a sprained ankle or irritated skin with a scratch, for example), chronic inflammation persists much longer in the body and shifts to speed superior when your immune system is hyperactive.