Subclinical Inflammation in Asymptomatic Schoolchildren With Plasmodium falciparum Parasitemia Correlates With Impaired Cognition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Subclinical inflammation and cognitive deficits have been separately associated with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections in schoolchildren. However, whether parasite-induced inflammation is associated with worse cognition has not been addressed. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study to better assess the effect of asymptomatic P. falciparum parasitemia and inflammation on cognition in Kenyan schoolchildren.

Methods

We enrolled 240 children aged 7-14 years residing in high malaria transmission in Western Kenya. Children performed five fluid cognition tests from a culturally adapted NIH toolbox and provided blood samples for blood smears and laboratory testing. Parasite densities and plasma concentrations of 14 cytokines were determined by quantitative

SUBMITTER: Johnson AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11520740 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature