The autoimmune disease known as lupus has recently made the news as celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton and, more recently, Selena Gomez, have been diagnosed with it.
The disease causes the immune system to break down cells in parts of the body, including the kidneys, lungs, skin, and blood vessels. A recent study, which reinforced what had already been suggested by previous research, has shown that Lupus can also impair memory and cognitive functions.
Researchers in Israel analyzed data from more than 7,000 people and found that dementia was much more common among people with Lupus than those without it.
Although lupus is best known for the damage it does to the kidneys, its symptoms can be extremely varied, making it very difficult to diagnose. In addition, experts have identified numerous forms of the disease, including 90 variations of neuropsychiatric lupus, which affect the central nervous system as well as cognitive and memory functions, and may even cause psychological and psychiatric symptoms.
Some patients refer to a “lupus fog,” a common and frequent description of the experience of difficulty concentrating. This more recent study, however, shows that even patients who do not have a neuropsychiatric diagnosis of lupus also have a greater than normal risk of dementia.
However, the study’s authors write that there are no known, safe treatments that address lupus and its cognitive difficulties. “The absence of durable solutions for this disability is frustrating given the young age distribution of lupus patients,” the study’s authors write. We have to wait for science to continue to evolve to find a cure for these illnesses.
