
Psychotic Disorders May Nearly Triple Dementia Risk
Individuals with a psychotic disorder are 2.5 times more likely than those without one to develop dementia.
According to new research, individuals with nonaffective psychotic disorders are 2.5 times more likely than those without a nonaffective psychotic disorder to eventually develop
In the first high-quality systematic review looking at a range of psychotic disorders and their association with dementia risk, researchers pulled together evidence from close to 13 million participants from 11 studies from 9 countries. The population of interest included adults at least 18 years old with a clinical diagnosis of nonaffective psychosis based on ICD criteria. Results indicated that
Despite speculations of the possible role of
“Cognitive impairment and hallucinations can be symptoms of both dementia and psychotic disorders, so it is possible there could be a link between the two illnesses. This impairment could also limit people’s cognitive reserve, and increase their vulnerability to dementia symptoms,” said lead author Sara El Miniawi of University College London.2
Regardless of the age at which an individual first develops their mental illness, those with psychotic disorders are at a higher risk of dementia later in life. Additionally, individuals with a
Previous research indicates that 4 in 10 dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting risk factors from across the lifespan. This study’s findings add to the list of modifiable risk factors for dementia.
“People with psychotic disorders are more likely to have other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease or
The researchers were not able to determine whether effective treatment for psychotic disorders could mitigate the dementia risk, or whether antipsychotic medication could be a factor, as there was limited and conflicting evidence.
References
1. El Miniawi S, Orgeta V, Stafford J.
2. Schizophrenia may increase dementia risk by 2.5 times. UCL News. October 6, 2022. Accessed November 2, 2022.
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