Mid-Life Stress may Increase Risk of Dementia

Stress can greatly impact your daily life due to various lasting physiological changes in the brain, according to a recent study.

Research that involved 800 Swedish women showed that their mental health and well-being were tracked for 40 years via part of a Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The study showed that women who had to cope with stressful evens including divorce were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 10 years later. Depending on how stressful the event, the risk for dementia was also greater.

The reason for the following outcomes however were not entirely clear. The study authors believe it might be due to the release of harmful hormones that trigger alterations in the brain.

At the very onset of the study, findings showed that one in four women said they had experienced at least one stressful event before. Similar proportions also showed that women had experienced at least three stressful events.

Follow up results showed that 425 of the women died and 153 developed dementia. Researchers thus believe that midlife stress and dementia share a common connection over time

"We know that the risk factors for dementia are complex and our age, genetics and environment may all play a role. Current evidence suggests the best ways to reduce the risk of dementia are to eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise, not smoke, and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check," said Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer's Research UK, via a press release. "If you are feeling stressed or concerned about your health in general, we would recommend you talk this through with your GP."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal BMJ Open.