Mid-Life Stresses Tied to Dementia Risk Later On…

An analysis of data from four studies that included nearly 40,000 people appears to indicate a possible connection between anxiety during middle age and a diagnosis of dementia in old age. The authors of the analysis suggest that an abnormal stress response may speed brain cell aging and breakdowns in the nervous system, creating a vulnerability to dementia. Senior researcher Dr. Natalie Marchant explains, “Given the long time interval between the assessment of anxiety and the diagnosis of dementia—on average greater than 10 years—the findings from our review indicate that moderate to severe anxiety may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia.” BMJ Open, April 2018