Exploring the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Dementia: A Review

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant disruptions to almost every healthcare system worldwide. Older adults have been hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic, with most deaths occurring among people aged 75 or older. Dementia researchers have noted the increased dementia-related mortality among older adults and fewer dementia diagnoses during the pandemic. Questions have therefore been raised regarding the effects of the COVID-19 virus on dementia prevalence and mortality. As a groundbreaking dementia treatment is about to hit the market, proper diagnoses of dementia are now more important than ever. There are also concerns that the COVID-19 virus could precipitate dementia and worsen dementia symptoms. This short review examines the current scientific evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on dementia mortality and prevalence, as well as describing the pathophysiological mechanisms by which COVID-19 might cause dementia and worsen dementia symptoms. Lastly, this review speculates on how dementia epidemiology might change during the next years as a result of the pandemic and provide suggestions for clinicians on how to respond to the coming changes.