If you or someone you love lives with a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia, you may worry about the future. New research adds a crucial piece to that picture: dementia is surprisingly common in older adults with these conditions.
In a meta-analysis pooling data from multiple studies, researchers found that 24.3% of older adults with psychotic disorders also had dementia. That's roughly one in four. The number varied widely from study to study, which the researchers say is a key limitation.
The analysis also looked at how often dementia develops over time in this group. The incidence rates varied widely across studies, so it's hard to pin down a single number. The wide range likely reflects differences in how studies were designed and which populations they included.
This doesn't mean that psychotic disorders cause dementia. The analysis can't tell us that. What it does show is a strong link that deserves attention. The researchers call for more population-based studies to better understand this connection and to help plan integrated services for older adults with psychotic disorders.
If this affects you or someone you care about, talk to a doctor about monitoring cognitive health and planning for the future.
