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Recent research highlights a significant correlation between persistent and newly developed anxiety and a higher dementia risk in older adults, suggesting that effective anxiety management could help mitigate this risk.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, both chronic and new anxiety were associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, where anxiety had resolved, there was no association with dementia risk.
The study included 2,132 individuals with an average age of 76 years who were participating in the Hunter Community Study in Australia and who were followed for an average of 10 years. The presence of chronic anxiety and new-onset anxiety were associated with 2.8- and 3.2-times higher risks of having dementia, respectively. Even higher risks were seen in adults with anxiety before the age of 70 years. People whose anxiety resolved did not have a higher dementia risk than people without current or past anxiety.
“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, MMed, of the University of Newcastle. “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.”
This study underscores the importance of mental health management, particularly in older adults, as a potential strategy to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. The implications are significant, given the rising prevalence of dementia and the impact it has on individuals, families, and healthcare systems globally.
The research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that mental health is deeply interconnected with physical health, particularly in the aging population. It opens new avenues for further investigation into how managing anxiety and other mental health conditions can contribute to healthier aging and reduce the burden of dementia.
For more details, refer to the study: “The effect of anxiety on all-cause dementia: A longitudinal analysis from the Hunter Community Study” by Kay Khaing, Xenia Dolja-Gore, Balakrishnan R. Nair, Julie Byles, and John Attia, published on July 24, 2024, in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19078.
