Affiliations: [a] Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil | [b] Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Karina Braga Gomes, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil. Tel.: +55 31 3409 6895; Fax: +55 31 3409 6985; karinabgb@gmail.com
Abstract: Background: Inflammation and cytokine production are a common finding in aging, which probably exert influence on cognitive and functional abilities in elderly people. Transforming-growth-factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is an important multifunctional anti-inflammatory cytokine that displays immunomodulatory activities. Objective: This prospective investigation aimed to evaluate the TGF-β1 codon 10 T>C on functional and cognitive decline in subjects aged 75+ years. Methods: The Functional Activities Questionnaire evaluated the functional performance and the cognitive assessment was evaluated through brief cognitive tests, consisting of: the Mini-Mental State Examination, animal category fluency test, and picture drawings memory test. All tests were administered twice, with a one-year interval. Results: Carriers of Tlower allele showed significant short-term decline in cognitive and functional performance, while individuals with CChigher genotype of TGF-β1 codon 10 T>C remained stable or showed improvement. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the lower production of TGF-β1 could predict a longitudinal functional and cognitive decline in oldest-old individuals.
