Increased risk for dementia both before and after stroke: A population-based study in women followed over 44 years

• Introduction: Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the long-term associations between stroke and dementia. Methods: A population sample of 1460 women without stroke or dementia at baseline was followed over 44 years, from 1968 to 2012. Information on stroke and dementia was obtained from neuropsychiatric examinations, key-informant interviews, hospital registry, and medical records. Results: During 44 years follow-up, 362 women developed stroke and 325, dementia. The age-specific incidence of the two disorders was similar. The incidence of dementia was higher in those with stroke than among those without (33.7% vs. 18.5%; age-adjusted hazard ratio 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.81). The increased risk of dementia started already 5 years before stroke, was highest 1 year after stroke, and continued more than 11 years after stroke. Discussion: There is an increased risk for dementia both before and after stroke. This has implications for understanding the relation between the two disorders and for prevention of dementia and stroke. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Stroke

Dementia

Longitudinal study

Population-based study

Women

transient ischemic attack

silent brain infarcts

white-matter lesions

poststroke dementia

cognitive decline

alzheimers-disease

diagnostic-criteria

incident dementia

case-fatality

mortality

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)