A new study found that there was a link between people that had been diagnosed with chronic stress or depression and their likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease later on in life.
The study revealed that people with a history of stress and depression were more likely to experience cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s. People with these diagnoses early on in life seemed to be more than twice as likely to later on be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than the average individual is. For the purposes of this study, chronic stress was defined as severe stress for six months or longer without time to recover.
The researchers were quick to point out that this finding does not necessarily indicate causality. Additionally, they stated that this does not account for all cases of Alzheimer’s.
New research has linked stress, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease together.
Unfortunately, chronic stress and depression are quite common. It’s not quite clear yet if preventing and properly treating these issues can prevent Alzheimer’s, but the current research does make a good case for early interventions of this sort.
This new research comes out of the Karolinska Institutet. The team published their findings in the journal, Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy. While previous studies have indicated that there might be a link between stress and Alzheimer’s, this is one of the most conclusive studies on the topic yet. While there’s always a lot more research needed in this particular field, hopefully this work does help doctors to prevent dementia moving into the future.
There’s no cure for many forms of dementia at this point in time, including Alzheimer’s disease. However, this research does have big implications when it comes to prevention of the disease. Again, hopefully this research can be a building block in this respect.
When a loved one is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, it is tough on the entire family. It is hard to see someone that you love deeply suffer. Dementia can be especially hard because it isn’t just a physical thing. It’s cognitive, too. And for those that are in the latter stages of the disease, they might struggle with things that can seem really hurtful, like forgetting your name or lashing out in anger in a way that they never would have before. The person with the disease is impacted without a doubt, but it goes beyond this. Dementia impacts entire families.
If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, the right care can make a world of difference for your entire family. Not all senior care is the same, and someone with dementia requires specialized assistance, often referred to as “memory care.” But even with the right type of care in place, different people will thrive in different environments.
This is where in-home memory care really exceeds people’s expectations. In-home care is given in your own home, right where your family is most comfortable. Additionally, this does take away some of the uncertainty and stress of having to move into a new location. Studies show that this leads to better long term outcomes for those with dementia.
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