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Association between urate-lowering therapies and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults
Molet-Benhamou L, Giudici KV, de Souto Barreto P, Cantet C, Rolland Y, MAPT/DSA group.. Scientific reports, 2022-09-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Long-term use of urate-lowering therapies (ULT) may reduce inflammaging and thus prevent cognitive decline during aging. This article examined the association between long-term use of ULT and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults with spontaneous memory complaints. We performed a secondary observational analysis using data of 1673 participants ≥ 70 years old from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT Study), a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a multidomain intervention, the administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), both, or placebo on cognitive decline. We compared cognitive decline during the 5-year follow-up between three groups according to ULT (i.e. allopurinol and febuxostat) use: participants treated with ULT during at least 75% of the study period (PT ≥ 75; n = 51), less than 75% (PT < 75; n = 31), and non-treated participants (PNT; n = 1591). Cognitive function (measured by a composite score) was assessed at baseline, 6 months and every year for 5 years. Linear mixed models were performed and results were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis of arterial hypertension or diabetes, baseline composite cognitive score, and MAPT intervention groups. After the 5-year follow-up, only non-treated participants presented a significant decline in the cognitive composite score (mean change - 0.173, 95%CI - 0.212 to - 0.135; p < 0.0001). However, there were no differences in change of the composite cognitive score between groups (adjusted between-group difference for PT ≥ 75 vs. PNT: 0.144, 95%CI - 0.075 to 0.363, p = 0.196; PT < 75 vs. PNT: 0.103, 95%CI - 0.148 to 0.353, p = 0.421). Use of ULT was not associated with reduced cognitive decline over a 5-year follow-up among community-dwelling older adults at risk of dementia.
Key findings
- Linear mixed models were performed and results were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis of arterial hypertension or diabetes, baseline composite cognitive score, and MAPT intervention groups.
- After the 5-year follow-up, only non-treated participants presented a significant decline in the cognitive composite score (mean change - 0.173, 95%CI - 0.212 to - 0.135; p < 0.0001).
- Use of ULT was not associated with reduced cognitive decline over a 5-year follow-up among community-dwelling older adults at risk of dementia.
Why it matters
In this observational analysis of 1673 older adults, long-term use of urate-lowering therapies was not associated with reduced cognitive decline over five years. It does not support these drugs as a way to prevent cognitive decline.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants51
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 51 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jean‐François Lefebvre: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 15 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36097005) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17808-6
- PubMed: 36097005
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Molet-Benhamou, L., Giudici, K. V., de Souto Barreto, P., Cantet, C., Rolland, Y., & MAPT/DSA group. (2022). Association between urate-lowering therapies and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17808-6
Vancouver
Molet-Benhamou L, Giudici KV, de Souto Barreto P, Cantet C, Rolland Y, MAPT/DSA group. Association between urate-lowering therapies and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. Scientific reports. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-17808-6. PMID: 36097005.
BibTeX
@article{moletbenhamou2022-36097005,
author = {Molet-Benhamou, L. and Giudici, K. V. and de Souto Barreto, P. and Cantet, C. and Rolland, Y. and {MAPT/DSA group}},
title = {{Association between urate-lowering therapies and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-17808-6},
pmid = {36097005},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17808-6}
}
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