Arthritis linked to faster cognitive decline in people with dementia

For the first time, researchers have found a clear connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cognitive decline in dementia patients.

A new Swedish study, published in the journal Neurology, suggests that dementia patients with RA experience faster mental decline and a higher risk of death compared to those without RA. These findings highlight the need for better monitoring and management of dementia patients with RA.

The study was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, who analyzed data from 1,685 dementia patients with RA and 5,055 dementia patients without RA. The two groups were matched based on age, gender, and other health conditions.

The patients were followed for a median period of three years, during which researchers tracked their cognitive function and overall health.

The results showed that dementia patients with RA had worse cognitive function over time and a higher mortality ratecompared to those without RA. This effect was particularly strong in patients with Alzheimer’s disease or mixed Alzheimer’s dementia.

According to Minjia Mo, the study’s first author and a researcher at Karolinska Institutet, these findings emphasize the role of inflammation in dementia progression. RA is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation, and scientists believe this inflammation may worsen brain function in dementia patients.

The study used data from the Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem) and included dementia patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2018.

The researchers measured cognitive decline by tracking Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, a common test used to assess memory and thinking skills. They also analyzed all-cause mortality to determine if RA increased the risk of death among dementia patients.

Next, the researchers plan to explore how RA-related inflammation contributes to brain inflammation and cognitive decline. They will examine specific inflammatory markers linked to RA and dementia progression. They also want to study whether anti-inflammatory treatments for RA could help slow down dementia symptoms.

Hong Xu, the senior author of the study, hopes these findings will encourage doctors to pay closer attention to RA in dementia patients. A multidisciplinary approach, involving both rheumatologists and neurologists, may help manage these patients more effectively and slow the progression of cognitive decline.

This study highlights the growing recognition of inflammation as a key factor in dementia. By understanding and treating conditions like RA, doctors may be able to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and reduce their risk of rapid cognitive decline.

The research findings can be found in Neurology.