Pulmonary disease associated with dementia in old age

Washington: According to a recent study, middle-aged lung disease may be a risk factor for dementia or cognitive impairment later in life.

The results were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Lead author Pamela L Lutsey of the University of Minnesota's Faculty of Public Health and a group of researchers report that obstructive and restrictive lung diseases were associated with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment . The link was stronger for restrictive lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis, than for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"The prevention of dementia is a public health priority and previous studies have suggested that poor lung health, often preventable, could be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia," said Dr. Lutsey.

"In this study, we examined the long-term association between impaired lung function and the risk of developing dementia, using high-quality measures," the author added.

The study found that compared to people without lung disease, the odds of dementia or mild cognitive impairment were:

– 58% higher in people with restrictive lung disease.

– 33% higher in people with obstructive lung disease.

The study also found that poor results in two spirometry tests – forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) – were associated with dementia. FEV1 is the amount of air that a person can force out in one second. FVC is a measure of lung size.

According to the authors, these results could be explained by the fact that pulmonary diseases have caused a drop in the oxygen level in the blood, which may have led to inflammation, stress and damage to the blood vessels. of the brain.

The limitations of the study included the fact that participants' lung function was only assessed at the beginning of the study and that many patients died before being evaluated for dementia or cognitive impairment.

Since it was not a randomized controlled trial, the study can not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between lung disease and dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers wrote that if these associations were causal, it would add weight to efforts to improve air quality and help people quit smoking. These public health measures could also reduce dementia rates and lung disease.

"The prevention of lung disease is inherently important," said Dr. Lutsey, adding that while other studies confirm the findings of their study, "individuals and decision-makers will be more likely to make changes that protect health." because they may also prevent dementia. "