caused by a condition or its treatment. The risk of complications from RA increases over time or when treatment is inadequate. Over time, RA can cause more than just pain and inflammation in the joints — it can actually deform joints, making it difficult for people to perform normal daily activities. RA can cause inflammation to develop in other areas of the body, including:right up arrow Blood vessels, where it's called rheumatoid vasculitis and can cause problems with the skin, nerves, heart, and brain Lungs, resulting in rheumatoid lung disease or other conditions, such as pleurisy (swelling and scarring of lung tissue) or pulmonary nodules Eyes, causing Sjögren's syndrome, which interferes with tears and saliva production; and scleritis, which is marked by eye redness and pain Heart, particularly the outer lining of the heart (pericarditis) and heart muscle (myocarditis) Wrists, causing carpal tunnel syndrome, in which pressure on the nerves of the hand results in numbness, tingling, and difficulty using the hands and fingersright up arrow Numerous other complications are also possible, including:right up arrow Peripheral neuropathy, a dysfunction of nerves that results in nerve pain, numbness, and tingling, particularly in the hands and feet Muscle weakness Anemia, a decreased red blood cell count that increases fatigue and weakness Various skin conditions, such as blisters, rashes, ulcers, lumps under the skinright up arrow Osteoporosis, or low bone density Spinal injuries (when neck bones are damaged from inflammation) Periodontal (gum) disease, though some research suggests this disease precedes RA, and other research suggests some cases of RA may be caused by the same bacteria behind gum disease.right up arrow Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are not uncommon among people with arthritis, RA included.For example, in a study published in September 2018 in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, researchers found that 55 percent of adults age 50 or older who had minor depression also had arthritis. Those rates jumped to 62.9 percent and 67.8 percent for geriatric arthritis patients experiencing moderate and severe depression, respectively.right up arrow Research presented at the June 2019 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology conference showed a similar link between arthritis and mental health issues. In one study, researchers found that 10 percent of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases surveyed had suicidal thoughts. Another study found that 25 percent of patients with RA or adult juvenile idiopathic arthritis experienced anxiety or depression. Study participants also noted marked sleeping issues due to pain.right up arrow Researchers have also investigated the link between mental health issues and RA, specifically. A study published in July 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research found that the incidence of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder was higher in people with RA than those without RA by 45 percent, 25 percent, and 20 percent, respectively.right up arrow There is also some evidence that having RA increases the risk of dementia. People with RA may have a 61 percent increased risk of dementia compared with the general population, according to a review published in January 2016 in the journal Neurology India.right up arrow Another study, published in November 2017 in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, suggests that commonly