Here we tell you how these diseases are linked and how you can protect yourself.
A red face can be a red flag for your brain: People with rosacea may be at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia over time, according to a new study in Annals of Neurology .
After analyzing the medical history of 5.5 million people, the researchers found that people diagnosed with rosacea – a skin disease that causes you to blush or have a red face easily – were seven percent more likely to develop dementia and 25 percent of developing Alzheimer’s than those who did not have that skin condition.
The researchers believe that there may be a link between these diseases that seems to have nothing to do with it.
Inflammation and antimicrobial peptides – vital proteins for your immune response – are usually found in people with rosacea. Both are linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s as well, says Dr. Alexander Egeberg, author of the study.
More research is needed to determine if treating rosacea when you are young can help protect your brain from dementia as you get older.
However, some treatments for rosacea, such as tetracycline, can actually suppress beta-amyloid and the tau? Protein in the brain that are thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s .
So if you have any symptoms of rosacea, such as a tendency to flush your face, sweat, and acne, talk to your doctor.
Although it is not clear whether treatment for rosacea can reduce the risk of dementia, not treating it can make it worse.