Study: Anxious, Depressed People More Likely to Develop Alzheimer's Disease

People who often suffer from anxiety and depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a study reported in the December 9 issue of Neurology.

The study involved 797 people whose average age was 75. The researchers evaluated the participants on their propensity to become stressed, their symptoms of depression and their cognitive activity.

Study author Robert S. Wilson, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said the findings are important because many of the adverse effects of stress on the brain can be blocked by drugs, including antidepressants.

"But much more research is needed before we can determine whether the use of antidepressants could help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease," Wilson added.

Wilson and his colleagues studied the brains of 141 people who died during the course of the study. Of those, 57 met the criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that those with a high propensity to become stressed were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as those with a low propensity.

According to the researchers, stress is related to a decline in episodic memory, which includes the ability to recall a list of words or a story. Problems with episodic memory are typical in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Other sources: American Academy of Neurology