Interdisciplinary study of inflammatory joint disease-associated influence on neurocognitive function

Certain long-lasting chronic inflammatory disorders including joint diseases manifesting with the high rate of disability and limited efficacy of conventional treatment might also augment risk of development and progression of diseases in the central nervous system. As a result, there is a real need to conduct thorough interdisciplinary studies in order to investigate the putative relationship between inflammatory joint disease and brain damage leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Consequently, our working hypothesis is that arthritic disorders manifesting with joint deficits are cross-linked with changes of neurocognitive function. Therefore, the aim of the given proposal is assessment of the relationship between inflammatory joint disease and impairment of cognitive function in subjects with severe joint deficits and high risk of progressive neurodegeneration and dementia.

Objectives

1. Assess the inflammatory joint disease in patients with joint deficits and risk of cognitive decline and dementia by using state-of-art instrumentation, laboratory, morphology and molecular virology methods.
2. Test cognitive domains by using a computer based assessment scale, followed by acquisition of the anatomical and functional MRI (fMRI).
3. Identify the clinical impact of mechanisms responsible for cross-talk between altered inflamed joints and progressive neurodegeneration manifested by cognitive decline and dementia and vise versa.