Increased Dementia Risk Seen in Patients With Vitiligo

A study published in the Journal of Dermatology suggests that people with vitiligo may be more susceptible to dementia than those without it, reports Dermatology Advisor . The researchers posited that this connection is possible given that both diseases involve autoimmune-related inflammation. The authors analyzed data from Taiwanese adults 45 or older with and without a vitiligo diagnosis from Jan. 1, 1998, to Dec. 31, 2011. Results indicated a fivefold increased risk for dementia in adults with vitiligo. The crude incidence rate per 100,000 person-years in the follow-up period for dementia was 502.8 for those with vitiligo and 101.9 for controls, while the adjusted hazard ratio was 5.30 for subjects with vitiligo versus controls. People with vitiligo had a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia compared with controls, while a significantly heightened risk for developing dementia was observed in both women and men, and in middle-aged and older age groups. Patients with vitiligo also were at greater risk for developing dementia whether or not they received phototherapy. "This novel finding reminds physicians to be more careful about signs of dementia when managing patients with vitiligo and provides a basis for further investigations that clarify the underlying mechanisms," the authors concluded.