Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2025

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

Bacterial pneumonia and subsequent dementia risk: A nationwide cohort study

Che-Sheng Chu¹, Chih-Sung Liang², Shih-Jen Tsai³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Non-invasive Neuromodulation Consortium for Mental Disorders, Society of Psychophysiology, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

|April 7, 2022

Abstract

Background:

Bacterial pneumonia is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, the association between different pathogens of bacterial pneumonia and the risk of dementia remains unclear.

Methods:

Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we recruited 11,712 patients with bacterial pneumonia and 11,120 controls between 1997 and 2012 and followed them up until the end of 2013. A diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and unspecified dementia were identified during the follow-up period. Cox regression analyses were performed with adjustments for confounders. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to exclude patients with prodromal dementia.

Results:

Patients with bacterial pneumonia were more likely to develop dementia (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.53-3.18), AD (HR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.65-3.61), VaD (HR: 4.15, 95% CI: 3.20-5.38), and unspecified dementia (HR: 2.62, 95% CI: 2.29-3.00) compared with controls after adjusting for potential confounders. Subgroup pathogen analyses showed that the HR of AD was 3.85 (1.66-8.96) for Hemophilus, and the HR of VaD was 5.40 for Staphylococcus. The risks of dementia and VaD were associated with repeated hospitalization due to bacterial pneumonia in a dose-dependent manner. Sensitivity analyses after exclusion of the first three years or first five years of observation and after exclusion case enrollment before 2010 or 2008 showed consistent findings.

Conclusion:

Different pathogens are associated with different risks of AD, VaD, and unspecified dementia. Further studies are necessary to investigate the underlying mechanisms of bacterial pneumonia and dementia.

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s disease Bacterial pneumonia Dementia Dose–response Vascular dementia

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Experimental Model to Evaluate Resolution of Pneumonia

Experimental Model to Evaluate Resolution of Pneumonia

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:

Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

Nursing management of pneumonia involves promoting airway patency, facilitating rest and conserving energy, encouraging fluid intake, maintaining nutrition, and educating patients.
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....

Dementia

Dementia

Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....

Pneumonia IV: Management

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Reappraising lithium, triiodothyronine and second-generation antipsychotic augmentation treatment for major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis with bias-adjustment analyses.

BMJ mental health·2026

Reassessing the risk-modifying effects of novel antidiabetic agents on asthma-COPD overlap syndrome: a dose-stratified network meta-analysis of 316,832 adults from 128 randomised trials.

EClinicalMedicine·2026

Alternariol, a mycotoxin, induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in human astrocytes: Protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·2026

Lithium versus valproate in bipolar disorder: Associations with dementia, mortality, suicide attempt, and end-stage renal disease in adults aged 45 years and older - a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study.

Psychiatry research·2026

Real-world effectiveness of monoclonal antibody lecanemab versus acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease: a target trial emulation.

Alzheimer's research & therapy·2026

Risks and Familial Coaggregation of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among First-Degree Relatives of Individuals With Colorectal Cancer.

Psychiatry investigation·2026

See all related articles