Worrywarts May Be Prone to Alzheimer's
Constant Worry May Raise Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
The stress of being a worrywart may more than double your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new
research.
The study showed that older people prone to constant worry were 2.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease
over the next few years than nonworriers. The link between distress and Alzheimer's disease appears to be stronger in
whites than in African-Americans.
Researchers say the results are in line with the only previous study to look at the relationship between being prone
to distress or worry and Alzheimer's disease. That study, involving a group of clergy members, also suggested that
constant worry increased the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say longer-term studies are needed to fully
understand the nature of this relationship.
Worry Raises Alzheimer's Risks
In the latest study, which appears in the Jan. 25 issue of Neurology, researchers interviewed more than 1,000 healthy
older adults in Chicago about their tendencies to worry and feel distressed. They examined the study participants
three to six years later to see if they developed Alzheimer's disease.
During the follow-up period, 170 people developed Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that people who were prone
to distress and worry were 2.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than someone who was not prone to
worry.
Specifically, the study showed that each point on the distress-proneness scale increased the odds of having
Alzheimer's disease by 6%.
Symptoms of depression have also been associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, but when researchers took
these worry-related symptoms into account the association between worry and Alzheimer's disease remained strong.
However, the link between worry and Alzheimer's disease was less robust among African-Americans. Researchers say
older African-Americans may have developed personal or social traits that help reduce psychological distress or its
negative effects on health, but more study is needed to explain this.
The stress of being a worrywart may more than double your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new
research.
The study showed that older people prone to constant worry were 2.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease
over the next few years than nonworriers. The link between distress and Alzheimer's disease appears to be stronger in
whites than in African-Americans.
Researchers say the results are in line with the only previous study to look at the relationship between being prone
to distress or worry and Alzheimer's disease. That study, involving a group of clergy members, also suggested that
constant worry increased the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say longer-term studies are needed to fully
understand the nature of this relationship.
Worry Raises Alzheimer's Risks
In the latest study, which appears in the Jan. 25 issue of Neurology, researchers interviewed more than 1,000 healthy
older adults in Chicago about their tendencies to worry and feel distressed. They examined the study participants
three to six years later to see if they developed Alzheimer's disease.
During the follow-up period, 170 people developed Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that people who were prone
to distress and worry were 2.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than someone who was not prone to
worry.
Specifically, the study showed that each point on the distress-proneness scale increased the odds of having
Alzheimer's disease by 6%.
Symptoms of depression have also been associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, but when researchers took
these worry-related symptoms into account the association between worry and Alzheimer's disease remained strong.
However, the link between worry and Alzheimer's disease was less robust among African-Americans. Researchers say
older African-Americans may have developed personal or social traits that help reduce psychological distress or its
negative effects on health, but more study is needed to explain this.
