Could Having Multiple Chronic Conditions Increase Dementia Risk?

A new study has found that multiple chronic conditions may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and suggest that preventing chronic diseases may help adults preserve their mental health as they get older.

For the study, the authors assessed 2,176 cognitively normal participants, with an average age of 78.5 years, following these patients for a median of 4 years. Those with more than 1 chronic condition were 38% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia, according to the investigators, who note that participants with 4 or more chronic conditions were at a 61% greater risk than those with 0 or 1 such condition. In addition, men were found to be at greater risk than women.
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While noting that the researchers did not specifically investigate the mechanisms by which multiple chronic conditions impact MCI risk, Maria Vassilaki, MD, PhD, neurologist at the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study, suggests the findings are “consistent with the hypothesis that multiple etiologies may contribute to late-life cognitive decline, and demonstrate the cumulative effect of chronic conditions on cognition impairment.”

The results also emphasize the need for prevention of chronic conditions, and suggest that primary care physicians can play a role in educating patients about reducing their risk of chronic conditions, adds Vassilaki.

“For those who already have the condition, primary care physicians have a role to play in effectively monitoring and managing chronic conditions in their patients in order to minimize the adverse implications for cognitive dysfunction.” 

Previous studies have shown associations between cognitive decline and impairment and several of the chronic diseases the Mayo team identified, such as cardiac disease, cerebrovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, she says.

In the absence of effective therapies for treatment of MCI and dementia, prevention and effective management of chronic conditions “may be beneficial in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment in late life,” says Vassilaki.

—Mark McGraw

Reference

Vassilaki A, Aakre J, et al. Multimorbidity and Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Am Geriatr. 2015.