Mild cognitive impairment in psoriatic arthritis: Prevalence and associated factors

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Neuroscience
• Dermatology

Background:

• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting joints and skin.
• Cognitive impairment, particularly mild cognitive impairment (MCI), may be associated with systemic inflammatory conditions.
• Understanding cognitive function in PsA is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
• To identify factors associated with MCI in the PsA population.
• To compare cognitive performance between PsA patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 96 PsA patients and 48 healthy controls.
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
• Sociodemographic, PsA, psoriasis, and disability data were collected; statistical analyses included ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (48.9%) of PsA patients exhibited MCI (MoCA score < 26/30), with significantly lower MoCA scores compared to controls (P = .015).
• PsA patients showed deficits primarily in denomination and language domains.
• MCI was negatively correlated with age, HAQ-DI, and fatigue, and positively with psoriasis duration and DLQI. Predictors of MoCA score included psoriasis duration, age, PASI, and HAQ-DI.

Conclusions:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is prevalent in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.
• Cognitive impairment in PsA is associated with disease duration, age, disease severity (PASI), and functional disability (HAQ-DI).
• These findings highlight the need for cognitive screening and management in PsA care.