Stress increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, Curated by Cristina Festari
Stress increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases
Curated by Cristina Festari
A recent study published in the journal JAMA - Neurology explored the association between stress-related disorders and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
Using national population registries, this study identified 61 748 people diagnosed with stress-related disorder and 595 335 people without diagnosis, acting as the control sample. During the study period (1987-2013), more than 3800 individuals developed neurodegenerative diseases, mainly of a vascular nature; most of those who developed them belonged to the group of people diagnosed with stress disorder. Furthermore, the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases increased together with the severity of the symptoms of psychiatric disorder.
The link between stress disorder and the risk of developing dementia of vascular origin could lie in the circulatory alterations of the cerebral blood vessels, determined by abnormal levels of some hormones, such as cortisol. Further studies are needed to confirm this, but if this were the case we would also have a valid ally of prevention on our side
