Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 09, 2026 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Medical News: As dementia rates continue to climb worldwide, scientists are racing to identify factors that might help protect aging brains. In a surprising new study from Taiwan, researchers found that older adults whose uric acid levels increased over time were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition often considered an early warning sign of dementia. However, the researchers stress that this does not mean people should intentionally raise their uric acid levels, as high uric acid remains a well-known risk factor for gout, kidney disease, and cardiovascular problems.
New research suggests rising uric acid levels may be linked to a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment in older adults,
though not dementia
New Insights into an Unusual Brain Health Connection
The study was conducted by researchers from the Department of Nutrition at Taitung MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, the Master Program in Biomedicine at National Taitung University, and the Department of Nutrition at China Medical University in Taiwan.
Hyperuricemia, the medical term for elevated uric acid levels in the blood, has long been associated with gout and metabolic diseases. Yet uric acid also acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body, leading some scientists to wonder whether it might play a protective role in brain health.
To investigate this possibility, the research team analyzed data from 1,959 adults aged 60 and older enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank. None of the participants had dementia or mild cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study. They were followed for an average of 4.47 years while researchers monitored changes in their uric acid levels and cognitive performance.
What the Researchers Found
During the follow-up period, 1,013 participants developed mild cognitive impairment and 132 developed dementia.
The most intriguing finding emerged when researchers examined how uric acid levels changed over time. Compared with individuals whose uric acid levels remained normal throughout the study, those who started with normal levels but later developed hyperuricemia had a significantly lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.
Even after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, education level, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression, and physical activity, the protective association remained.
The researchers also observed that participants who maintained high uric acid levels throughout the study initially appeared to have lower MCI risk, although this relationship weakened after extensive statistical adjustments.
Importantly, no significant relationship was found between hyperuricemia and the risk of developing dementia itself.
Why Might Uric Acid Affect the Brain?
Scientists believe oxidative stress plays a major role in age-related cognitive decline. Oxidative stress occurs when harmful molecules known as free radicals accumulate and damage cells, including brain cells.
Uric acid occupies a unique position in human biol
ogy. Although excessive levels can contribute to disease, uric acid also accounts for roughly half of the antioxidant capacity found in human blood. It can neutralize damaging molecules and help protect tissues from oxidative injury.
Researchers suggest this antioxidant activity may help explain why higher uric acid levels were associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Previous studies have also linked higher uric acid levels to lower amounts of beta-amyloid proteins, which are heavily implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Some evidence suggests individuals with higher uric acid levels may maintain better cognitive performance as they age.
However, the relationship is far from straightforward. Excessively high uric acid can also trigger inflammation and blood vessel damage, factors that may increase the risk of vascular dementia and other health problems.
Findings from More Than Two Million People Remain Mixed
To strengthen their investigation, the team also conducted a systematic review of previous research. They examined five prospective cohort studies involving a combined total of more than 2.26 million participants.
The results were far from consistent.
Two large studies suggested that gout or elevated uric acid levels were linked to a lower risk of dementia. Another study found no significant association, while one of the largest studies reported an increased dementia risk among people with gout. A Singapore study found a protective effect only in women.
Because the findings varied substantially across studies, the researchers concluded that the overall relationship between hyperuricemia and cognitive decline remains uncertain.
This
Medical News report notes that the new Taiwan cohort study is among the first to specifically examine how changes in uric acid levels over time may influence cognitive outcomes in older adults rather than simply comparing people with high versus normal uric acid levels.
Important Caveats and Clinical Implications
The researchers emphasize that their findings should not be interpreted as a recommendation to increase uric acid levels intentionally. Hyperuricemia remains a major risk factor for gout, chronic kidney disease, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease.
The study also had limitations. The follow-up period may have been too short to fully assess dementia risk, and information on medications, kidney function, diet, and brain imaging was unavailable. These factors could potentially influence both uric acid levels and cognitive health.
Conclusion
The findings add an intriguing new piece to the growing puzzle surrounding brain aging and cognitive decline. Among older adults, rising uric acid levels were associated with a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, even after accounting for many traditional risk factors. However, the same protective relationship was not observed for dementia, and evidence from previous large studies remains inconsistent. Researchers believe uric acid's antioxidant properties may help shield brain cells from damage, but they caution that elevated uric acid can also contribute to serious health problems. Until larger and longer-term studies provide clearer answers, the results should be viewed as an interesting scientific observation rather than a reason to alter medical treatment or attempt to increase uric acid levels.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/11/1813
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