Study finds that people who have had severe infections are at higher risk of developing dementia later in life

A Finnish nationwide registry study found that people hospitalized for severe infections had a higher later-life risk of dementia, even after accounting for cardiovascular and other factors.

The strongest links were seen for cystitis and common bacterial infections, and the pattern also appeared in early-onset dementia.

The findings suggest infection prevention and treatment in older adults could be relevant to lowering future dementia risk.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine and led by researchers at the University of Helsinki, points to possible roles for neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier changes.