Inverse occurrence of cancer and Alzheimer disease: A population-based incidence study
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the incidence of cancer in persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) and the incidence of AD dementia in persons with cancer. Methods This was a cohort study in Northern Italy on more than 1 million residents. Cancer incidence was derived from the local health authority (ASL-Mi1) tumor registry and AD dementia incidence from registries of drug prescriptions, hospitalizations, and payment exemptions. Expected cases of AD dementia were calculated by applying the age-, sex-, and calendar year-specific incidence rates observed in the whole population to the subgroup constituted of persons with newly diagnosed cancers during the observation period (2004-2009). The same calculations were carried out for cancers in patients with AD dementia. Separate analyses were carried out for the time period preceding or following the index diagnosis for survivors and nonsurvivors until the end of 2009 and for different types and sites of cancer. Results The risk of cancer in patients with AD dementia was halved, and the risk of AD dementia in patients with cancer was 35% reduced. This relationship was observed in almost all subgroup analyses, suggesting that some anticipated potential confounding factors did not significantly influence the results. Conclusions The occurrence of both cancer and AD dementia increases exponentially with age, but with an inverse relationship; older persons with cancer have a reduced risk of AD dementia and vice versa. As AD dementia and cancer are n…
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AD patients have a decreased incidence of cancer, with up to a 50% decrease reported.
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients have a decreased incidence of cancer.”
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- Authors
- Musicco, M., Adorni, F., Di Santo, S., Prinelli, F., Pettenati, C., Caltagirone, C., Palmer, K., & Russo, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- From the National Research Council of Italy (M.M., F.A., F.P.), Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Segrate (Milan); Foundation IRCCS “Santa Lucia” (M.M., S.D., C.C., K.P.), Rome; Alzheimer Departmental Unit (C.P.), AO of Garbagnate (Milan); University “Tor Vergata” (C.C.), Rome; and Epidemiology Unit (A.R.), Local Health Authority of Milano 1, Milan, Italy.
- Venue
- Neurology
- Published
- 2013-07-23
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 322-328
- ISSN
- 0028-3878 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-632X
- OpenAlex
- W2155636825
- Cited by
- 295
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 5
- FWCI
- 12.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease, cancer, dementia, inverse association, aging, senescence, age-related risk
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Female, Humans, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Registries, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Incidence, Databases, Factual, Community Health Planning
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