Treatment with TNF-α inhibitors versus methotrexate and the association with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Peripheral inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, outside of the central nervous system, may result in clinical improvement of Alzheimer's disease (AD) outcomes. TNF-α inhibitors (TNFIs) are effective treatments for various autoimmune conditions and may be effective for preventing and/or treating AD. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of dementia and AD in patients initiating methotrexate versus those initiating TNFIs.

Methods

Insurance claims data from databases of commercially insured and Medicare-eligible patients were used to estimate the risk of dementia and AD within patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating a TNFI versus initiation of methotrexate. A sensitivity analysis included all patients without the RA diagnosis requir

SUBMITTER: Kern DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8450793 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature