The Risk of Dementia with the Use of 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

June 2017 in “ Journal of the neurological sciences ”

Blayne Welk, Eric McArthur, Michael Ordon, Sarah A. Morrow, Jade Hayward, Stephanie N. Dixon

5-alpha reductase inhibitors 5ARIs dementia urinary symptoms mild cognitive impairment

TLDR Using 5 alpha reductase inhibitors may increase dementia risk in the first two years.

The study investigated the association between the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) and the risk of dementia. Using a matched cohort design with data from Ontario, Canada, 81,162 men who used 5ARIs were compared to an equal number of non-users. Results indicated an increased risk of dementia in the first (HR 2.18) and second (HR 1.52) years of 5ARI use, but this risk was not significant in men with the longest exposure (HR 1.06). The findings suggested that the initial higher risk might be due to the presentation and treatment of urinary symptoms coexisting with mild cognitive impairment, rather than a direct causative relationship between 5ARI use and dementia.

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