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COPD increases the risk of non-amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), JAMA Neurology reports.

Researchers followed 1,425 people aged 70-89 years with normal cognition at baseline for a median of 5.1 years. Of these, 171 had COPD at baseline, while 370 developed MCI during follow-up. COPD significantly increased the risk of non-amnesic-MCI by 83 per cent but did not significantly increase the risk of MCI or amnesic-MCI. People diagnosed with COPD for longer than five years at baseline were 58 and 158 per cent more likely to develop MCI and non-amnesic-MCI respectively.

The authors suggest that inflammation, vascular disease and hypoxia could explain the link between COPD and MCI. The findings may suggest targets for €early intervention to prevent or delay the onset and progression of MCI,€ especially non-amnesic impairment, they say. (JAMA Neurology)