Criminal Trajectories Across the Dementia Timeline-A Nationwide Finnish Register Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Criminology
• Public Health and Geriatrics

Background:

• Neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Lewy body dementias (LBD) can impact behavior.
• Understanding the relationship between criminal activity and these diagnoses is crucial for patient care and public safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate crime rates, incidence, and timing relative to diagnoses of AD, FTD, and LBD.
• To analyze risk factors and relationships associated with criminal activity in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal register study using Finnish nationwide health and police data (1998-2015).
• Inclusion of 92,189 patients (80,540 AD, 1059 FTD, 10,590 LBD).
• Examination of crimes committed before and after diagnosis, focusing on 4- and 10-year post-diagnosis periods.

Main Results:

• Individuals with pre-diagnosis criminal behavior showed higher post-diagnosis criminal activity incidence.
• A steep increase in cumulative incidence of first post-diagnosis crime was observed, especially within 2 years.
• The adjusted risk (sHR) for first post-diagnosis crime was significantly higher in pre-diagnosis offenders across AD, FTD, and LBD groups.

Conclusions:

• A history of criminal behavior predicts higher rates and risk of future criminal activity in neurocognitive disorders.
• The risk of criminal activity rises sharply in the first two years post-diagnosis.
• Criminal behavior close to diagnosis, particularly within one year prior, is a strong predictor of subsequent offending.