…risk; they were 2.36 times more likely to experience dementia compared with patients who did not receive ADT.
The researchers adjusted for a range of confounders, such as comorbidities, race, and age. They also analyzed a subset of patients by Gleason score and the association held. Higher risks overall were found among ADT users regardless of age. ADT recipients older than 70 were the least likely to remain dementia free, with a 7.1% absolute increase in dementia risk 5 years after ADT initiation.
“Our study extends previous work supporting an association between use of ADT and Alzheimer[‘s] disease and suggests that ADT may more broadly affect neurocognitive function,” Dr Nead and colleagues concluded.
Given the possible implications for public health, the investigators encouraged future prospective studies to investigate the relationship, including by ADT type. Among the limitations, the researchers noted that patients with cardiometabolic disorders—an important risk factor for dementia—tend to be poor candidates for prostatectomy and therefore more likely to receive radiation treatment and ADT.
Article republished by permission from the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN).