What are the risks associated with varicose veins?

Varicose veins are a form of vein disease. Left untreated, they can cause a variety of complications including the formation of blood clots and ulcers. Additionally, new scientific data reveals that varicose veins increase your risk for all forms of dementia. Here’s what you need to know.

What are the risks associated with varicose veins?

Vein disease is a progressive problem. As such, varicose veins will worsen without treatment, increasing your risk for ulcers, clots and even bleeding. Recently, research published in the journal PLOS One revealed an additional risk associated with varicose veins: dementia of all kinds.

Can varicose veins lead to dementia?

In a study following 396,767 patients in South Korea between 2002 and 2019 researchers examined rates of dementia diagnoses for two types of participants: those with and without varicose veins.   In all, 55,329 participants developed dementia; 38,673 were diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, and 15,013 developed vascular dementia. After analyzing many other factors, the researchers concluded that one of the risks associated with varicose veins is an elevated risk for all-cause dementia. (Moreover, this study from 2022 confirms the association between varicose veins and an increased risk for Alzheimer disease.) As such, the authors concluded that treating varicose veins was likely to reduce your risk.

Minimally invasive treatment options

In the short term, seeking treatment reduced risks associated with varicose veins such as leg pain; swelling; muscle cramps and changes to the skin surrounding your affected veins. Over time, vein treatment also decreases your risk for blood clots and leg ulcers and, as we now know, for developing dementia.

Ready to improve your vascular health and reduce the risks associated with varicose veins? We’re here to help. You can request a consultation with the vascular specialists at one of our seven Texas Endovascular locations. When you meet with our team, we’ll explore minimally invasive treatment options that can restore your health without the need for general anesthesia, major incisions or overnight hospital stays.