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. 2016 Sep 10:4:109-117.
doi: 10.1016/j.dadm.2016.08.004. eCollection 2016.

Systemic and localized extra-central nervous system bacterial infections and the risk of dementia among US veterans: A retrospective cohort study

Francis Mawanda  1 , Robert B Wallace  2 , Kimberly McCoy  3 , Thad E Abrams  4
Affiliations

Systemic and localized extra-central nervous system bacterial infections and the risk of dementia among US veterans: A retrospective cohort study

Francis Mawanda et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). .

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging evidence indicates associations between extra-central nervous system (CNS) bacterial infections and an increased risk for dementia; however, epidemiological evidence is still very limited.

Methods: This study involved a retrospective cohort of a national sample of US veterans (N = 417,172) aged ≥56 years. Extended Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic characteristics and medical and psychiatric comorbidities determined the associations between systemic and localized extra-CNS bacterial infections occurring >2 years before the initial dementia diagnosis and the risk for dementia.

Results: Exposure to any extra-CNS bacterial infection was associated with a significantly increased risk for dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.20 [95% confidence interval = 1.16-1.24]). Independently, septicemia (HR = 1.39 [1.16-1.66]), bacteremia (HR = 1.22 [1.00-1.49]), osteomyelitis (HR = 1.20 [1.06-1.37]), pneumonia (HR = 1.10 [1.02-1.19]), urinary tract infections (HR = 1.13 [1.08-1.18]), and cellulitis (HR = 1.14 [1.09-1.20]) were associated with a significantly increased risk for dementia.

Discussion: Both systemic and localized extra-CNS bacterial infections are associated with an increased risk for developing dementia.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Bacterial infections; Cellulitis; Dementia; Osteomyelitis; Pneumonia; Septicemia; Urinary tract infections; Veterans.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Subject selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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