Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Risk of Early and Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease and related Dementia: Large Longitudinal Study

This study looked at whether people with traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). Researchers used a large database of insurance claims to compare the risk of ADRD in adults with and without TSCI. The study found that adults with TSCI had a higher risk of developing ADRD, especially early-onset ADRD (before age 65). This increased risk may be due to nerve damage, inflammation, and other health problems that are more common in people with TSCI. The findings suggest that doctors should screen people with TSCI for cognitive problems and provide early interventions to help preserve brain function. Further research is needed to understand how to reduce the risk of ADRD in this population.

• 1
  Adults with TSCI had higher incident ADRD compared to those without TSCI.
• 2
  Adults with TSCI had a greater hazard for ADRD among both 45–64 years old and 65+ years old age groups.
• 3
  Secondary comorbid conditions that are more prevalent among people with TSCI may also increase the risk of incident ADRD.