Dementia, Stress, and Anxiety

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are in a race against time to find its causes before more people develop the condition.

Till now, that quest has been futile.

However, a new study in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy reveals a terrifying connection between stress, anxiety and Alzheimer’s disease.

Like dementia, anxiety and stress are conditions that originate in the brain and neurological system. This potential connection led Swedish scientists to wonder whether chronic forms of these two psychological conditions could be a risk factor for dementia.

To investigate, they obtained the records of more than 1.3 million people from the Region of Stockholm administrative healthcare database, with an average age of 40 years. Of the participants, 4,346 had a history of chronic stress, 40,101 had experienced anxiety, and 1,898 had faced both.

They then followed this group between 2014 and 2022 to see if there was any connection between their mental health and the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings?

1. Those who had faced chronic stress were 2.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and 87% more likely to have mild cognitive impairment.

2. Those with a history of anxiety had a 2.3 times higher risk for Alzheimer’s and a 2.85 times higher risk of mild cognitive impairment.

3. Participants with both chronic stress and anxiety were four times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and almost four times more likely to have mild cognitive impairment.

Why Is This Important?

Dementia is a growing health concern worldwide. Over 55 million people are affected by the condition and it is a leading cause of death. Given that the aging population is set to double by 2050, understanding the potential risk factors for dementia has become critical.

While age is a significant risk factor, that is not something we can control. However, understanding and managing other potential triggers, such as chronic stress and anxiety, can offer some hope.

Fortunately, if you’re experiencing stress and anxiety, there are simple steps you can take to be free from both (even if all has failed before) and prevent dementia down the line…

But if you have already been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, all you have to do is load your brain with one free ingredient explained here…