Key clinical point: A significant association was observed between atopic dermatitis (AD) and poorer cognitive function in men, and familial characteristics exerted a confounding effect on this association.
Major finding: After effectively controlling for familial environmental confounding factors and addressing genetic influences, AD in men was significantly associated with poorer cognitive function (regression coefficient −0.04; 95% CI −0.07 to −0.003).
Study details: This sibling-comparison study included 1,687,038 men who underwent a military conscription examination at 17-22 years of age, of which 25,995 were diagnosed with AD.
Disclosures: This study was sponsored by grants from the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare (Forte) and the UK Economic and Social Research Council. L von Kobyletzki declared being a consultant for and receiving research funding from various organizations. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Smith KA et al. Atopic dermatitis and cognitive function: A sibling comparison study among males in Sweden. Br J Dermatol. 2024 (Jan 3). doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae004