Skin Disorder, Rosacea May Have Links to Alzheimer’s

A Danish-led study carried about by experts at the University of Copenhagen suggests that Rosacea, the facial redness seen among millions of Americans, may be strongly associated with greater risks of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

While the conclusion sounds alarming, authors quickly emphasized that those affected with rosacea should not be too anxious about the findings of their research.

"It is important for patients to remember that having rosacea does not guarantee that they will develop Alzheimer's disease," said lead author Dr. Alexander Egeberg as quoted by WebMD.

"In fact, while the risk in rosacea patients may be slightly increased compared with the general population, the absolute risk [to any one patient] is still quite low."

According to a report by Fox News Health, the scientists drew data from 5.6 million adult Danes from 1997 to 2012. About 84, 200 of the patients suffered from rosacea. When the researchers analyzed the data based on death rates, causes of death, and incidences of dementia, they found that 99, 000 people developed dementia, 29, 000 of which were known to have Alzheimer's.

Furthermore, the findings also revealed that rosacea was linked to 7% increased risk of dementia and 25% risk of Alzheimer's among patients suffering such skin condition compared to those who didn't have it.

"A subtype of patients have prominent neurological symptoms such as burning and stinging pain in the skin, migraines, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, suggesting a link between rosacea and neurological diseases," said Egeberg as per Medical News Today.

"Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that rosacea may be linked with neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease and now also Alzheimer's disease."

Around 16 million Americans are currently diagnosed with rosacea according to Nature World News. Currently, no cure for the skin condition has been found yet as the cause remains largely a mystery. To manage signs and symptoms, various dermatological treatments are available.