Associations between parental history of dementia and plasma markers of inflammation in a multi‐ethnic middle‐aged community of adults

INTRODUCTION: Parental history of dementia is associated with increased dementia risk. We investigated whether having a parent with dementia is associated with increased peripheral inflammation in middle-aged adults. METHODS: Participants were from the Offspring Study (n = 1204). Parental dementia status was determined by a diagnostic consensus conference. Plasma chemokine and cytokine concentrations were assayed with Luminex technology. RESULTS: Parental history of dementia was associated with higher levels of eotaxin and lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, vascular endothelial growth factor A, and interleukin (IL)-27. IL-18 and epidermal growth factor levels were higher in Black individuals with a parental history of dementia compared to Hispanic individuals with the same history. Women with a parental history of dementia had higher levels of interferon-alpha 2, IL-12p70, soluble CD40 ligand, and IL-18 compared to men with the same history. DISCUSSION: Parental history of dementia is associated with elevated markers of peripheral inflammation. These associations vary across sex, race, and ethnicity.