Correlation between neurotransmitter levels and cognitive function in patients with comorbid Alzheimer's disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
10.11886/scjsws20250327001
- VernacularTitle:阿尔茨海默病合并慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者神经递质水平与认知功能的相关性
- Author:
Runjiao CHEN
1
;
Haishi XUE
1
;
Ling HUANG
1
Author Information
1. The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University， Luzhou 646000， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease;
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
Neurotransmitters;
Cognitive function
- From:
Sichuan Mental Health
2025;38(6):534-540
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BackgroundWith the intensification of population aging， the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease （AD） has been increasing， and 10% to 20% of AD patients also suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. Compared to patients with a single disease， those with comorbid AD and COPD show more severe cognitive impairment， reduced quality of life， and a greater disease burden. Both AD and COPD patients exhibit abnormal levels of neurotransmitters， which affect cognitive function. However， the alterations in neurotransmitter levels in patients with comorbid AD and COPD and their association with cognitive function remain unclear. ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between neurotransmitter levels and cognitive function in patients with AD combined with COPD， and to provide references for improving the cognitive function in this population. MethodsA total of 120 patients who were hospitalized at The Third Hospital of Mianyang from January to September 2024 were divided into three groups： 40 patients meeting the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10） diagnostic criteria for AD were defined as AD group， 40 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for COPD according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease （GOLD） 2023 guidelines were defined as COPD group， another 40 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for both conditions were defined as AD combined with COPD group. Additionally， 40 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination at the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Encephalofluctuograph was used to detect the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA）， glutamate （Glu）， norepinephrine （NE）， 5-hydroxytryptamin （5-HT）， acetylcholine （Ach）， and dopamine （DA）. Cognitive function of the subjects was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment （MoCA）. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between neurotransmitter levels and cognitive function in AD combined with COPD patients. Multiple linear regression analysis was adopted to investigate the influencing factors of cognitive function in this population. Results①Significant differences were observed in MMSE and MoCA scores across all four groups （H=126.323， 128.489， P<0.01）. The AD combined with COPD group demonstrated significantly lower MMSE and MoCA scores compared with COPD group， AD group， and control group （P<0.05）. ②Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of GABA， Glu， Ach， NE，and DA among the four groups （H=61.094， 46.665， 135.289， 15.089， 129.636， P<0.01）. Compared with the COPD group， AD group， and control group， the AD combined with COPD group showed significantly lower levels of GABA， Ach， and DA， but higher Glu levels， with all differences being statistically significant （P<0.05）. ③In the AD combined with COPD group， the levels of GABA， Ach， and DA showed positive correlations with MMSE scores （r=0.633， 0.876， 0.580， P<0.05）， while Glu levels were negatively correlated with MMSE scores （r=-0.377， P=0.013）. ④The levels of Ach （B=0.253， 95% CI： 0.153–0.352）， GABA （B=0.137， 95% CI： 0.013–0.261）， age （B=-0.212， 95% CI： -0.356–-0.069） and education duration （B=-0.367， 95% CI： -0.608–-0.126） were the influencing factors of cognitive function in patients with AD combined with COPD. ConclusionCompared with the COPD group， AD group， and control group， patients with AD combined with COPD exhibited more severe cognitive impairment， along with lower levels of GABA， ACh， and DA， but higher Glu levels. Ach and GABA levels are potential influencing factors of cognitive function in AD combined with COPD patients.
