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.
“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.
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.
But scientists said their most important finding was that people whose anxiety was resolved had no higher risk of dementia than those without current or past anxiety.
“While this sort of question cannot be subject to a randomised controlled trial, this prospective cohort study used causal inference methods to explore the role of anxiety in promoting the development of dementia,” Dr Khaing said.
“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.”
The results were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Dr Khaing added: “To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the effect of persistence of anxiety (chronic vs. resolved vs. new anxiety) and the timing of exposure to anxiety on dementia risk.”
Previous research has linked anxiety to vascular disease and dementia through factors like neuronal inflammation, brain atrophy, beta amyloid formation and cardiovascular disease.
However, the results have been mixed.
Generally, scientists understand that people with anxiety are more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, including having a poor diet, physical inactivity and smoking – all of which can cause cardiovascular disease (which includes conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and an increased risk of blood clots).
There is strong evidence connecting cardiovascular disease with dementia, “therefore, these are plausible direct and indirect mechanisms by which anxiety can increase the risk of dementia”, the authors said.
Around one in 10 people in the UK have anxiety at any one time.
There are various treatments available, including self-help resources, talking therapies, and medication.
Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid.
It is a natural human response when we feel under threat, and most people experience it at times.
Anxiety becomes a mental health problem if it impacts your ability to live your life as fully as you want to. For example:
There are dozens of symptoms of anxiety that can affect the body and the mind.
This can be everything from a churning feeling in your stomach to sleeping problems to feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down.
Around one in 10 people in the UK have anxiety at any one time.
There are various treatments available, including self-help resources, talking therapies, and medication.
Some of the most well-documented ways of combating anxiety are:
If you struggling with anxiety, speak to your GP or call Mind’s infoline on 0300 123 3393.
