The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique risks to people with Alzheimer disease and dementia. Research from 2020 has shown that these people have a relatively high risk of contracting severe COVID-19, and are also at risk of neuropsychiatric disturbances as a result of lockdown measures and social isolation.
Key advances
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People with dementia are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection because cognitive symptoms cause difficulty with following safeguarding procedures and living arrangements in care homes facilitate viral spread1.
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Once infected, older adults with dementia are more likely to experience severe virus-related outcomes, including death, than are people without dementia4.
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A homozygous APOE ε4 genotype is…
