Inflammatory bowel disease as a new risk factor for dementia

The prognostic impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic inflammatory conditions consisting of ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD) on the risk of dementia has been poorly investigated. We evaluated the risk of dementia in IBD patients by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data. Three studies, enrolling 121.827 patients [14.839 IBD (12.1%) and 106.961 (87.7%) controls, respectively] were included in the analysis. Of these, 57.7% (n = 8.571) had UC, while 42.2% (n = 6268) had CD. The mean follow-up period was 21.3 years. A random effect model revealed an aHR of 1.52 (95% CI 1.04-2.020, p = 0.01; I² = 91.1%) for dementia in IBD patients. Sensitivity analysis confirmed yielded results. Subjects having a CD showed an aHR for dementia of 1.48 (95% CI 1.07-2.03, p = 0.001, I² = 68.9%), while the risk among those with a history of UC did not reach the statistical significance (aHR: 1.47, 95% CI 0.95-2.82, p = 0.81, I² = 89.9%). IBD males had an increased risk of dementia compared to women. IBD patients and in particular those with CD have an increased risk of dementia in the long-term period.