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Study says rosacea and dementia could be linked

Posted at 10:47 AM, Apr 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-28 11:48:14-04

The risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease might be found on your face. A new study published in the Annals of Neurology shows patients with rosacea have an increased risk of developing dementia.

However, the study's authors say people with rosacea shouldn’t worry too much; more research will need to corroborate these findings for a definitive link to be established.

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder which causes redness and bumps on the face. According to the National Rosacea Society, roughly 16 million Americans live with this skin condition. Doctors don’t know what causes rosacea, and although there are treatments to help soften the redness, there are no known cures for the disease.

Rosacea is characterized by elevated expression of certain proteins. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered elevated levels of those proteins are also involved in neurogenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

They looked at over 5.5 million people, including over 82,000 that had rosacea, and found patients with rosacea were seven-percent more likely to develop dementia and 25 percent were more likely to have Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without rosacea.

The lead researcher in this study noted it is important for patients to remember that having rosacea does not necessarily mean that they will develop dementia; however, the results may provide new insights into the link between the skin and neurodegenerative disorders. 

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