Can Stress Increase Risk of Alzheimer's? Yes Says Study

Another study has found another danger that stress brings to humans.

A study published in the journal Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders has found that feeling “stressed out” heightens the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, which is often a symptom of Alzheimer's disease.

The United Press International reported that the researchers, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System, have found that those who were prone to perceived stress were twice as likely to experience “amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)” compared to those who are not. This is characterized by memory loss.

“Our study provides strong evidence that perceived stress increases the likelihood that an older person will develop aMCI,” senior author and vice chair of neurology at Einstein and Montefiore Richard Lipton said in a press release.

Mindy Katz, M.P.H., the study's first author, explained that perceived stress is found in everyday life, evident in all the hassles that people experiences, as well as their respective responses.

“Fortunately, perceived stress is a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, making it a potential target for treatment,” Lipton added.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 500 adults older than 70. These adults were enrolled in the Einstein Aging Study, which is a community-based cohort of older adults located in Bronx County, N.Y.

There were 71 people diagnosed with aMCI during the study. It was found that the more the stress they experience, the more likely they are to develop amnestic MCI; for every 5-point increase in their Perceived Stress scores, a 30-percent increase in the likelihood of developing the condition was found.

It was also found that females were more likely to have high stress scores. Lower education was also linked to higher stress levels. Depression, on the other hand, did not significantly affect the relationship between stress an aMCI.

Due to the treatable nature of stress, the researchers believe that diagnosis rates for Alzheimer's can be lowered by tending to the anxiety problems of older adults.

“Perceived stress can be altered by mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive-behavioral therapies and stress-reducing drugs,” Katz explained. “These interventions may postpone or even prevent an individual’s cognitive decline.”

Each year, about 470,000 Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, in the years 2011-2013, approximately 83,503 adults aged 65 and above have died from it.