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Dementia

What is dementia?

Symptoms of dementia include memory, language and movement impairment. People with dementia may also be unable to identify objects, people, sound or smell. There is often impaired executive functioning, for example, an inability to think abstractly, plan, initiate or stop actions. Other symptoms include behavioural disturbances, anxiety, apathy, delirium, and mood and sleep disturbances. Schizophrenia is also often associated with cognitive and functional decline; however, people with dementia show greater cognitive impairment.

What is the evidence for comorbid dementia?

Moderate quality evidence finds a medium-sized increased risk of dementia in people with schizophrenia. Studies conducted in non-European countries reported the highest risk. There were no differences in the risk according to differences in study design (prospective or retrospective), study quality, study duration (less than or more than 10 years), participant age (under or over 65 years) or sex. Studies adjusted their results for multiple known risk factors for dementia.

Low quality evidence is unable to determine any benefits of rivastigmine, a cholinergic agent, for people with schizophrenia and dementia.

June 2020

Last updated at: 4:06 am, 18th June 2020
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Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.