Forgot Password

Sign In

Register

  • Company Information

  • Billing Address

  • Are you primarily interested in advertising *

  • Do you want to recieve the HealthTimes Newsletter?

  • Researchers say dementia heightens COVID-19 death risk

    Author: AAP

Dementia sufferers are more likely to catch COVID-19 and die from it as many live in high-risk transmission settings, Australian researchers say.

Australians with dementia are more likely to catch COVID-19 and die from the infection or suffer severe complications, researchers say.

Subscribe for FREE to the HealthTimes magazine



Safeguarding procedures, such as physical distancing and mask wearing, are extremely difficult for people with dementia to follow, increasing their risk of infection, UNSW Sydney's Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) found.

Many people living in aged care homes - a high-risk transmission setting - have dementia, further compounding the risk, co-director of CHeBA Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty says.

"This type of living arrangement - where residents live in close proximity and where physical distancing is impossible for residents who are dependent on staff for most of their daily activities - drastically increases virus transmission," he said.

FEATURED JOBS

Emergency FACEM
Omega Medical Pty Ltd
Enrolled Nurse | GEM Fitzroy
St Vincent's Hospital
Registered Nurse-Theatre
Frontline Health Auckland


But dementia sufferers are also likely to be hit harder by the virus.

A study conducted in the UK has indicated dementia can increase the risk of neurological complications from COVID-19, CHeBA's Dr Katya Numbers says.

On top of that, measure designed to curb the spread of the virus have serious mental and behavioural impacts on those with dementia.

"Older adults are likely to experience additional distress as a result of the absence of relatives they would normally engage with on a regular basis," Dr Numbers said.

"The strict limitations imposed on their social activities and engagement with each other appear to have a direct impact on neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioural complications - mostly in residents with dementia, but also in people without any cognitive impairment."

Comments

Thanks, you've subscribed!

Share this free subscription offer with your friends

Email to a Friend


  • Remaining Characters: 500