Elderly people suffering from gout may have 17-20 per cent higher risk of dementia suggests a new study by a team that includes an Indian-origin researcher. Gout -- a very common condition -- is caused by deposits of crystals of a substance called uric acid (also known as urate) in the joints which leads to inflammation. Periods of time when patients are experiencing gout symptoms are called flares. Flares can be unpredictable and debilitating developing over a few hours and causing severe pain in the joints. Our study found a considerable increased risk of dementia associated with gout in the elderly
