Older Adults With Gout Have Higher Rates of Dementia

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Seniors with gouthave a 17 to 20 percent higher-than-normal risk for dementia, according to a study presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018). Gout is a painful condition caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to inflammation.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted the study, which was published inAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases, BMJ;it involved data on 1.23 million people on Medicare, 65,325 of whom had dementia. After adjusting for other factors that affect dementia risk, the researchers determined that gout is an independent risk factor for dementia.

The link between gout and dementia was highest in older age groups, women, African Americans, and seniors with other chronic health conditions, according to the researchers.

Sourced from:Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

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