Correlation of Blood Metal Concentrations with Cognitive Scores and Neuroimaging Findings in Patients with Total Joint Arthroplasty

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Beba, Alican^{a; b} | Peterson, Stephanie M.^b | Brennan, Peter C.^c | O’Byrne, Jamie^b | Machulda, Mary M.^d | Jannetto, Paul J.^e | Vemuri, Prashanthi^f | Lewallen, David G.^c | Maradit Kremers, Hilal^{b; c} | Vassilaki, Maria^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] George Washington University, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Washington, DC, USA | [b] Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA | [c] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA | [d] Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA | [e] Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA | [f] Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Maria Vassilaki, MD, PhD; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Tel.: +1 507 293 7472; Fax: +1 507 284 1516; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) implants are composed of metals, ceramics, and/or polyethylene. Studies suggest that the debris released from metal implants may possess neurotoxic properties with reports of neuropsychiatric symptoms and memory deficits, which could be relevant to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This exploratory study examined the cross-sectional correlation of blood metal concentrations with cognitive performance and neuroimaging findings in a convenience sample of 113 TJA patients with history of elevated blood metal concentrations of either titanium, cobalt and/or chromium. Associations with neuroimaging measures were observed but not with cognitive scores. Larger studies with longitudinal follow-up are warranted.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, blood metal concentrations, chromium, cobalt, cognitive function, cognitive scores, magnetic resonance imaging, titanium, total joint arthroplasty

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221182

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 94, no. 4, pp. 1335-1342, 2023