How a common mental health issue can raise risk of Alzheimer's by SEVEN-FOLD, first-of-its-kind study shows READ MORE: Want to avoid dementia? Scientists name most effective tips By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 08:01, 24 July 2024 | Updated: 08:01, 24 July 2024 e-mail View comments It can leave people with a racing heartbeat and dreading work meetings. But a new study has found that living with anxiety may also radically raise a person's risk of developing dementia.
Adults over 60 diagnosed with anxiety in the last 10 years were about three times more likely to develop dementia than those without the condition. And those who were diagnosed with anxiety before age 70 had even worse odds, as they were up to seven times more likely to develop dementia. Researchers in Australia found that having chronic or new anxiety increased the risk of older people developing dementia The above graphic shows the average increased risk of developing dementia based on chronic, resolves, or new anxiety The team believes that this could be due to patients with mental illness being more likely to engage in risky behaviors like smoking and eating a poor diet, which have been shown to lead to dementia.
Some evidence also suggests that anxiety causes excess levels of stress hormones, leading to inflammation in the brain that releases toxins and slows cognitive function, resulting in dementia. The study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that mental health could .