Inflammation in individuals with schizophrenia – Implications for neurocognition and daily function

•Increased TNF-α and IL-12p70 were significantly associated with decreased neurocognition.•Increased TNF-α was significantly associated with poor daily functioning.•Inflammation may be a novel pathway of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.•Targeting inflammation in people with schizophrenia may improve neurocognition and functioning. Individuals with schizophrenia display substantial deficits in neurocognition, resulting in poor daily functioning and disability. Recent reports have suggested that neurocognitive dysfunction in this population is linked to increased inflammation. However, there is paucity of evidence supporting this link, as well as lack of information about the putative link of inflammation to daily functioning. We examined neurocognition (MCCB) and daily functioning (SLOF), as well as inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-12p70) in 41 individuals with schizophrenia. Poor neurocognition was significantly associated with increased peripheral TNF-α and IL-12p70 (r = −0.44 and r = −0.38, respectively, controlling for BMI, depression and antipsychotic medication). Notably, difficulties with daily functioning were significantly associated with increased peripheral TNF-α (r = −0.51) and a trend with increased IL-12p70. Our findings support previous hypotheses linking neurocognitive impairment to increased inflammation in individuals with schizophrenia. Our results extend these associations in this population, linking inflammation to poor daily functioning in this population.