Head injury as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: the evidence 10 years on; a partial replication
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine, using a systematic review of case-control studies, whether head injury is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. We sought to replicate the findings of the meta-analysis of Mortimer et al (1991). METHODS: A predefined inclusion criterion specified case-control studies eligible for inclusion. A comprehensive and systematic search of various electronic databases, up to August 2001, was undertaken. Two independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility. Fifteen case-control studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria, of which seven postdated the study of Mortimer et al. RESULTS: We partially replicated the results of Mortimer et al. The meta-analysis of the seven studies conducted since 1991 did not reach significance. However, analysis of all 15 case-control studies was significant (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.06), indicating an excess history of head injury in those with Alzheimer's disease. The finding of Mortimer et al that head injury is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease only in males was replicated. The excess risk of head injury in those with Alzheimer's disease is only found in males (males: OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.06; females: OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.47). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for an association between a history of previous head injury and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
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A history of head trauma and hearing loss may favor the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
“A history of head trauma and hearing loss may favor the onset of AD [3,102,116].”
From Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment Strategies and Their Limitations. (2022) · cites this paper as [116]
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- Authors
- Fleminger, S.
- Affiliations
- Maudsley Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Fleminger, S
- Venue
- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2003-07-01
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 857-862
- ISSN
- 0022-3050 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC1738550
- OpenAlex
- W1975656204
- Cited by
- 719
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 74 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 2.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Keywords
- traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, risk factors, replication, sex differences, case-control study
- MeSH terms
- Alzheimer Disease, Female, Craniocerebral Trauma, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Reproducibility of Results, Odds Ratio, Case-Control Studies
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