The mean differences between subjects with AD and normal cognition controls in TNF-α concentrations (coefficient = − 0.341, 95% confidence interval: − 0.875, − 0.036; p = 0.037) and IL-1β (coefficient = − 0.456, 95% confidence interval: − 0.875, − 0.036) were correlated with MMSE scores. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is Alzheimer disease.