ANXIETY is linked to an increased risk of dementia, a new study suggests. Researchers found those with the common mental health condition under the age of 70 were far more likely to be diagnosed with the brain-robbing disease in later life than those without. But if anxiety was considered resolved, participants were no more likely to develop dementia than those who had never had it.
This suggests the link between the two conditions could be reversed, study authors said. "Chronic and new anxiety were associated with increased risk of all-cause dementia, and this association was significant in those 70 years and younger," Dr Kay Khaing, from the University of Newcastle, Australia , said. "However, the resolved anxiety at follow-up reduced the risk, similar to that of the non-exposed group.
READ MORE ON ANXIETY "These results suggest that timely management of anxiety may be a viable strategy in reducing the risk of dementia." Scientists studied 2,132 "cognitively healthy" people aged 55 to 85 from New South Wales for an average of 10 years. More than a third (21 per cent) had anxiety during the first test, three per cent developed dementia , and seven per cent died.
The average onset of dementia was 10 years. Most read in Health Participants with chronic anxiety were 2.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
And new onset anxiety was associated with a 3.2-times higher risk of the condition. Even higher risks were seen in adults with anxiety before the age of 70.
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