Cognitive phenotypes in immune mediated inflammatory diseases: a trans-diagnostic approach

Concept

Accumulating evidence from small-scale studies suggests that people with immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) have an increased risk of cognitive impairment (CI), but limited data are available from population studies. CI enormously impacts quality of life, but at present there is little understanding of the magnitude of CI or which sociodemographic, biological and medical factors are associated with CI in the IMIDs, meaning there is no research to direct intervention development. The IMIDs in this study are: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease.
This analysis of the UK-Biobank dataset will be the largest study of CI in the IMIDs, providing the first definitive evidence of the extent of CI in this group. Furthermore, risk factors for CI identified within this project can be used to direct intervention development.

Facts and Figures

Project Lead
J Gwinnutt
University of Manchester (UoM)
james.gwinnutt@manchester.ac.uk
FOREUM research grant € 197’124
2021–2024

Meet the Team

Project Lead

J Gwinnutt
University of Manchester (UoM)
james.gwinnutt@manchester.ac.uk
S Verstappen
University of Manchester (UoM)
A MacGregor
University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich
D Montaldi
University of Manchester (UoM)
J Simpson
Patient Partner
J Rollestone
Patient Partner

Objectives

  • To define the magnitude of cognitive impairment in people with IMIDs, using a harmonised battery of cognitive assessments
  • To identify cognitive phenotypes in the IMIDs, and explore how these phenotypes are related to diagnosis
  • To perform a phenotypic scan for factors associated with cognitive impairment / phenotypes in the IMIDs

Goals/Milestones

  • 8 months (August 2022): received data, recruited a PPI group and held first meeting
  • 14 months (March 2023): cleaned data and performed first descriptive analysis
  • 20 months (September 2023): performed machine learning and identified cognitive phenotypes
  • 26 months (March 2024): performed phenome-wide scan and identified factors associated with cognition in the IMIDs
  • 32 months (September 2024): project completion, academic papers published, lay summaries written and disseminated to patient groups

Patient Voice

This will be the largest assessment of cognitive impairment in the IMIDs to date, providing an accurate description of cognitive impairment in these conditions, leading to it becoming a recognised symptom of the IMIDs. Furthermore, identifying factors that are linked with cognitive impairment could pave the way for the development of interventions to improve or prevent cognitive impairment in the IMIDs. Lastly, if lifestyle is linked with cognitive impairment in the IMIDs, this will provide motivation for positive health behaviour changes.

Project Map