Repetitive thought, cognition, and systemic inflammation in the midlife in the United States study

Abstract

Objective

Poor cognition increases risk for negative health outcomes, and this may be explained by associations with systemic inflammation. Previously, amount of repetitive thought (Total RT) interacted with IQ to predict interleukin-6 (IL-6) in older adults. This study continued the investigation of repetitive thought (RT) as an element involved in the effect of cognition on inflammation.

Design

Participants (N = 164) came from the Midlife in the United States Refresher project (M_age = 45.33, SD = 11.51, ranges = 25–74; 48.2% female; 85% Caucasian). Cognition was assessed via telephone, inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumour-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α)) analysed after blood draw, and RT derived from daily diary data.

Results

Cognition significantly interacted with RT valence (p = .009) to explain CRP after covariate adjustment. Better cognition and more negative RT valence was associated with lower CRP (β = −0.190 [-.387, .008]). Worse cognition and more negative RT valence was associated with higher CRP (β = 0.133 [−.031, .297]). No significant effects were found for IL-6 or TNF-α.

Conclusion

RT may interact with cognition to affect different inflammatory biomarkers. Those with worse cognition may benefit more from skills related to regulating thought than those with better cognition.

Keywords:

• Repetitive thought
• CRP
• IL-6
• systemic inflammation
• MIDUS
• cognition

Author contributions

Study conceptualisation and report writing were completed by Elana Gloger and Suzanne Segerstrom. Data preparation, and data analysis were completed by Elana Gloger with mentorship and guidance from Suzanne Segerstrom.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The Midlife in the United States Study investigators received funding from the following sources: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network, National Institute on Ageing (P01-AG020166), National Institute on Ageing (U19-AG051426), NIH National Centre for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program as follows: UL1TR001409 (Georgetown), UL1TR001881 (UCLA), 1UL1RR025011 (UW).