Increased Risk for Dementia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the gut-brain axis is implicated in psychological and neurological dysfunction. To determine whether IBD is associated with excess risk for dementia, researchers analyzed longitudinal data from Taiwan's national health insurance program, comparing dementia incidence in 1742 patients with IBD and 17,420 matched, healthy individuals. Results were as follows:

• The overall incidence of dementia was 5.5% in patients with IBD and 1.4% in controls.

• Average age of diagnosis was 7 years younger in patients with IBD compared with controls (76 vs. 83).

• The adjusted hazard ratio for dementia in IBD was 2.5.

• Risk was greater for Alzheimer disease than for vascular or unspecified dementia.

• Dementia risk remained similar reg…