Depression, PTSD, and TBI Associated With Dementia in Female Military Veterans
Researchers considered these risk factors separately and together in assessing elevated dementia risk in female vets
by Vicki Brower, CME Writer, MedPage Today
December 15, 2018
Action Points
Women military veterans with a traumatic brain injury had a 50% increase in dementia risk, while PTSD increased risk by nearly 80%, and depression increased it by almost 70%, according to a new study.
Realize that these findings emphasize the need for increased dementia screening in female military veterans who have depression, traumatic brain injury, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder, and for new research into interventions to modify the effects of these risk factors.
CME Author: Vicki Brower
Study Authors: Kristine Yaffe, Sandy J. Lwi, et al.
The goal of this study was to understand whether diagnoses of traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression alone or in combination increase the risk of dementia among older female veterans, and if so, by how much?
Questions Addressed by this Study:
What are the military-related risk factors for dementia among female veterans? Specifically, how do TBI, PTSD, and depression contribute to the development of dementia in female veterans? How does this compare to what is seen in male military veterans?
https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/76956
