Cytokines are chemical signalling molecules released by the immune system in response to pathological insults. Cytokine upregulation is an early feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and a possible contributor to downstream neuropathology and cognitive decline. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), cytokine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and behavioural measures, we aimed to investigate the relationships between cytokine activity, early neurochemical changes and cognitive decline in an AD rodent model. Preliminary metabolic alterations suggest a paradoxical increase in synaptic activity, coinciding with cognitive deficits. This ongoing study is a step towards understanding the impact of abnormal cytokine levels on the AD brain.
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