In a comprehensive study using U.S. national private administrative claims data spanning from 2010 to 2020, researchers have identified a significant association between traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and an increased hazard for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). The study, which observed adults aged 45 and older, emphasized that those who had suffered a TSCI were more likely to develop ADRD compared to their counterparts without such an injury.
The investigation targeted adults with probable incident TSCI, totaling 657 individuals. They were compared against a control group of 6,553 people without TSCI. The control group was meticulously matched in a one-to-ten ratio to ensure accuracy and relevance in the comparative results obtained.
During the 4-year follow-up period, assessing the hazard ratio for ADRD involved adjusting Cox survival models for multiple covariates including age, sex, chronic conditions, prescribed medications, and neighborhood characteristics. Results indicated that adults between the ages of 45-64 who had experienced TSCI showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 5.14, reflecting a substantially higher risk for ADRD. Conversely, after the age of 65, the risk was not found to be significantly increased (HR = 1.20).
Source: Nature.com