Older Incarcerated Veterans Reentering The Community Carry A 21% Higher Risk Of Dementia Diagnosis

Older veterans (aged 65 years and older) who reenter the community after incarceration have a 21% higher risk of developing dementia than veterans of the same age who were never incarcerated. The risk was high for those with and without a prior diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. As a result, veterans in reentry may need additional access to health and social services to identify and address cognitive deficits.

These findings were reported in “Risk Of Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment And Dementia Soon After Leaving Incarceration Among A US Veteran Population” by Amy L. Byers, Brie Williams, Richard Fortinsky, and colleagues . . .