Every 3 Seconds, Someone Develops Dementia. Having Anxiety Only Heightens the Risk, New Study Says

Someone in the world develops dementia every 3 seconds. According to Alzheimer Disease International,  since 2020 over 55 million people worldwide have been living with Dementia, and the numbers have been increasing drastically each year. 

In a new study published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers found that both chronic and new anxiety are directly connected with the increased risk of dementia. However, a positive outcome was that when the anxiety was treated or resolved, so was the associated risk.

The Alzheimer’s Association, a not-for-profit organization, clarifies that dementia is not a single disease but a broad term for a range of symptoms that can occur with various conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases, which fall under the umbrella of dementia, result from abnormal brain changes. Symptoms of dementia lead to a decline in cognitive abilities, significantly impacting daily life and independence. Additionally, they influence behavior, emotions, and relationships.

Ngozi Iroanyah, Director of  Health Equity and Access for the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, told The Debrief in an email, “Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a cluster of neurodegenerative disorders that affect cognition, mood, behavior, and sometimes physical ability. Alzheimer’s is the most commonly known dementia and the most frequent, with up to 70 percent of all dementia cases being Alzheimer’s.” 

The study consisted of 2,132 participants, with an average life span of 76 years, and was followed by the Hunter Community Study in Australia for an average of 10 years.

“While this sort of question cannot be subject to a randomized controlled trial, this prospective cohort study used causal inference methods to explore the role of anxiety in promoting the development of dementia,” said corresponding author Kay Khaing, from the University of Newcastle, in a press statement.

Chronic anxiety and newly developed anxiety are linked to a 2.8 and 3.2 times higher risk of dementia, respectively. The risk is even greater for adults who experience anxiety before the age of 70. However, individuals whose anxiety resolved did not show a higher risk of dementia compared to those without current or past anxiety.

“The findings suggest that anxiety may be a new risk factor to target in the prevention of dementia and also indicate that treating anxiety may reduce this risk,” indicated Khaing. 

“Studies have been ongoing in determining causal links between stress and dementia, but studies have found that stress increases cortisol levels that can impair memory cognition and affect mood and behavior. Stress also contributes to depression and anxiety, which are also risk factors for dementia. Researchers are trying to determine the cause and effects link, but again, that is ongoing,” added Iroanyah.