Anxiety Increases Risk of Dementia
Scientists were interested in the relationship between anxiety and dementia. Chronic (long-lasting) anxiety is associated with cardiovascular disease and brain cell inflammation, degradation, and death, which are also risk factors for dementia.
A new study explored anxiety, and the timing of exposure to anxiety, in 2,132 Australians between the ages of 60 and 85 who did not have cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease at the time they were recruited. They collected data regarding anxiety, whether anxiety was chronic, new, or resolved, and onset of dementia with a maximum follow up timeframe of 13 years after recruitment.
They discovered that:
chronic and new anxiety were associated with an increased risk of dementia at follow-up, as compared to no anxiety;
chronic and new anxiety experienced below the age of 70 were associated with an increased risk of dementia, compared to those age 70 and older;
the greater the anxiety, the greater the risk of dementia; and
resolved anxiety was similar to experiencing no anxiety, which decreased the risk of dementia, as compared to participants who had anxiety.
Takeaway: Anxiety may be a modifiable condition that, if improved, can positively impact brain health. Managing or reducing anxiety may decrease the risk of dementia. Because people with anxiety can turn to unhealthy coping habits such as inactivity, poor diet, and smoking, which could explain the increased dementia risk, they should consider adopting healthier lifestyle choices, and practices designed to reduce or resolve anxiety.
Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.
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Debra Austin has broken important and highly useful ground with this thorough, fascinating examination of how lawyers think, feel, and behave, offering countless insights into aspects of the lawyer mindset that can harm our mental health, diminish our well-being, and handicap our performance. Blending abundant research with her own keen observations and expertise, she has also created a well-organized, easy-to-follow roadmap for lawyers to optimize their brain health and enhance their overall well-being. On every level, this book is time very well spent.
Patrick Krill, JD, LL.M., MA, Founder and Principal, Krill Strategies
Sources
Kay Khaing, et al., The effect of anxiety on all‐cause dementia: A longitudinal analysis from the Hunter Community Study - Khaing - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society - Wiley Online Library, July 24, 2024.
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