Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41589491›Full record

ArticleCurrent Alzheimer research2026

Clinical and Medication Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline in Dementia: A Healthcare Database Study.

Chen-Chih Chung, Jia-Hung Chen, Lung Chan, Hung-Yi Liu, Joni Yu-Hsuan Shao, Yi-Chieh Hung, Chien-Tai Hong

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Article in Current Alzheimer research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chen-Chih ChungDepartment of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0001-6743-6667
Jia-Hung ChenDepartment of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-7982-0612
Lung ChanDepartment of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0001-5795-4460
Hung-Yi LiuHealth Data Analytics and Statistics Center, Office of Data Science, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0009-0005-7472-7215
Joni Yu-Hsuan ShaoHealth Data Analytics and Statistics Center, Office of Data Science, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-0757-1901
Yi-Chieh HungDepartment of Neurosurgery and Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-9345-6554
Chien-Tai HongDepartment of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-7448-1041

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDementia is the most common neurodegenerative disease, but the risk factors associated with its progression remain incompletely understood. Identifying clinical and medication-related determinants of cognitive decline may inform patient management and guide treatment strategies. MATERIALS AND

methodsIndividuals with dementia who underwent paired Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessments between 2013 and 2019 were identified from the Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database. To ensure adequate follow-up, paired assessments were required to be at least 90 days apart, with an actual mean follow-up interval of 21.5 ± 18.0 months. Demographic data, comorbidities, medication prescriptions, and blood biochemistry results were extracted. Generalized estimating equations were applied to evaluate associations between these factors and MMSE changes.

resultsA total of 3,054 individuals with dementia were included (mean age 78.0 ± 9.2 years, 61.1% women). The mean baseline MMSE score was 18.5 ± 6.7 and it declined to 16.0 ± 7.5 at follow-up. Male sex was significantly associated with greater MMSE decline (estimate: -0.920, 95% CI: -1.552 to -0.289, p = 0.004). Antidementia medications were significantly associated with less decline in MMSE scores (estimate: 1.245, 95% CI: 0.676 to 1.815, p < 0.001). In contrast, non-aspirin antiplatelet agent use was associated with a greater decline among men (estimate: -1.346, 95% CI: -2.518 to -0.173, p = 0.025). DISCUSSION: These findings highlighted that both clinical and pharmacological factors influence cognitive decline in dementia. Antidementia medications were linked to slower deterioration, supporting their role in disease management. Conversely, the association of non-aspirin antiplatelet agents with faster decline in men suggested potential adverse effects that warrant further investigation.

conclusionIn this large real-world cohort, sex and medication use were key determinants of cognitive decline in dementia. Antidementia medications mitigated decline. Notably, only non-aspirin antiplatelet agents, but not aspirin, were associated with greater cognitive decline in men., underscoring the need for personalized treatment approaches.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionDementiaAgedAged, 80 and overDatabases, FactualDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMaleMental Status and Dementia TestsPlatelet Aggregation InhibitorsRisk FactorsSex FactorsTaiwanPlatelet Aggregation Inhibitorsantiplatelet agentaspirincognitive declineDementiahealthcare databasemini-mental state examination

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.