Chronic and New-Onset Anxiety Linked to All-Cause Dementia

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2024 -- Chronic and new-onset anxiety are associated with an increased risk for all-cause dementia, especially among those aged younger than 70 years, according to a study published online July 24 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Kay Khaing, from the University of Newcastle in New Lambton Heights, Australia, and colleagues examined the longitudinal association between chronic versus resolved versus new-onset anxiety and all-cause dementia risk among 2,132 individuals (mean age, 76 years) recruited from the Hunter Community Study. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to measure anxiety.

The researchers observed associations for chronic anxiety and new-onset anxiety at follow-up with all-cause dementia risk (hazard ratios, 2.80 and 3.20, respectively), with an average time to dementia diagnosis of 10 years; no association was seen for resolved anxiety. These results were driven by chronic and new-onset anxiety among participants younger than 70 years in subgroup analyses (hazard ratios, 4.58 and 7.21, respectively). Very similar results were seen in sensitivity analyses imputing missing data and addressing reverse causation.

"These findings support anxiety as a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia and point to the possible role of managing anxiety in middle aged and 'young' older adults to reduce the risk of dementia in later life," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-08-08 01:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords