Anxiety in older adults may increase dementia risk

The risk of dementia from any cause may be tripled by anxiety in older adults, as per observations in a new study.

Researchers have found that new anxiety was associated with a greater likelihood of later dementia in a new study of more than 2,000 Australians between ages 55 and 85.

However, people whose anxiety has “resolved”, meaning those who had anxiety at one time but no longer do — had the same risk level as people who never reported having anxiety.

“We found that experiencing anxiety at age 70 or younger increased the risk of dementia,” says the lead author of the study, Kay Khaing, a conjoint lecturer and researcher at the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia, reported Everyday Health.

Between 14% and 17% of people aged 65 and older have an anxiety diagnosis, as per an estimate. Because many cases are missed, many experts believe that’s actually a significant undercount.

In the study, the link between anxiety and dementia risk was particularly strong in participants ages 70 years and younger. Those with chronic anxiety were four times more likely to develop dementia for this group and people with new onset anxiety were more than seven times more likely.

Notably, the findings can only suggest a link or association as the study was observational rather than an intervention. They don’t provide evidence that anxiety increases dementia risk.