Unveiling the Connection
Atopic Dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a condition that most people associate with itchy, inflamed skin. But could it also be a predictor of cognitive decline? A recent systematic review and meta-analysis dives deep into this question.
The study aims to explore the relationship between AD and cognitive dysfunction, particularly focusing on middle-aged and older adults. The findings are both intriguing and alarming.
The Source Article Details
Atopic dermatitis and cognitive dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zhou Q et al. in 2023.
The Source Article's Abstract
Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting adults worldwide. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between AD and cognitive dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults.
Methods
To find relevant research, a comprehensive search of electronic databases was carried out. Data were taken from eligible studies, and a meta-analysis was done to determine the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
We searched three databases and found a total of 15 studied arms included in 5 cohort studies with over 8.5 million participants. The results showed that individuals with AD had a higher risk of developing dementia of all-cause dementia and the Alzheimer type but not vascular dementia.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that AD was associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction, particularly dementia of the Alzheimer type and all-cause dementia, in middle-aged and older participants.
The Source Article References
- Association of atopic dermatitis severity with cognitive function in adults by JI Silverberg, 2020 in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
- Longitudinal course of cognitive impairment in patients with atopic dermatitis by L Jackson-Cowan, 2023 in Archives of Dermatological Research
- The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease by MS Albert, 2011 in Alzheimer’s & dementia
- Association of a wide range of chronic diseases and apolipoprotein E4 genotype with subsequent risk of dementia in community-dwelling adults: A retrospective cohort study by X Shang, 2022 in EClinicalMedicine
- Immune dysregulation in atopic dermatitis by PY Ong, 2006 in Current allergy and asthma reports
- Association between atopic dermatitis, depression, and suicidal ideation: a systematic review and meta-analysis by KR Patel, 2019 in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
- Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement by PRISMA Group* t, 2009 in Annals of internal medicine
- Behavioural and psychological symptoms in neurocognitive disorders: Specific patterns in dementia subtypes by R Majer, 2019 in Open Medicine
- Age periods of human life by A. Dyussenbayev, 2017 in Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal
- The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) for assessing the quality of nonrandomised studies in meta-analyses by J Peterson, 2011 in Ottawa: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses by JP Higgins, 2003 in Bmj
- The association between atopic dermatitis, cognitive function and school performance in children and young adults by I Vittrup, 2023 in British Journal of Dermatology
- Atopic dermatitis: an overview by R Berke, 2012 in American family physician
- Atopic dermatitis is associated with active and passive cigarette smoking in adolescents by SY Kim, 2017 in PloS one
- Cohort studies: marching towards outcomes by DA Grimes, 2002 in The Lancet
- Observational research methods. Research design II: cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies by C. Mann, 2003 in Emergency medicine journal
Citing the Source Article (APA)
(2023). Atopic dermatitis and cognitive dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 18(10), e0292987-e0292987. 10.1371/journal.pone.0292987
What the Numbers Say
The study is robust, involving over 8.5 million participants and 15 studied arms. It reveals that individuals with AD have a higher risk of developing all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Interestingly, the risk was not elevated for vascular dementia, suggesting specific pathways may be involved.
PP-ICONS: A Quick Evaluation
- Problem: Cognitive Dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults
- Patient or Population: Middle-aged and older adults with Atopic Dermatitis
- Intervention: Meta-analysis of existing studies
- Comparison: Adults without Atopic Dermatitis
- Outcome: Increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Number of Subjects: Over 8.5 million
- Statistics: Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)
Implications for the Medical Field
The findings of this study could have far-reaching implications. Not only does it add a layer of complexity to the management of AD, but it also opens up new avenues for dementia research.
Could treating AD more aggressively help mitigate the risk of cognitive decline? That’s a question that warrants further investigation.
What do you think about these findings? Could they change the way we approach Atopic Dermatitis and cognitive health? Share your thoughts below.