Dementia may be a risk factor for infection but not death from COVID-19 Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News March 11, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail People who have dementia are at much higher risk of becoming infected with COVID-19, but no more likely to die from it than those without cognitive impairment, new research suggests. The study, which is being presented next week at the American Stroke Association's virtual International Stroke Conference, found people with any type of cognitive impairment were 51% more likely to get infected. Their risk of dying, however, was no higher than it was for their peers whose brains were unimpaired.