Not so daft an idea!
Is there a link between anxiety and dementia?
Before going to a recent BBC report about this important subject, let me offer a personal anecdote.
A couple of months ago I had cause to be seen by a neurologist. I wanted to get a professional opinion as to whether a degree of forgetfulness that I was experiencing was normal for a person of my age (68 next birthday). Dr. G. not only confirmed that there was absolutely no sign of dementia but that my forgetfulness was perfectly normal for someone of my age who had been through some major life changes in the last few years.
Dr. G. stressed (probably not the best word but you know what I mean!) that me worrying about forgetting stuff and the resulting anxiety was a self-feeding issue. I had to stop being anxious. Indeed, Dr. G. said the following (and this I haven’t forgotten!):
Anxiety is the killer of good bodies and the killer of good brains!
So with those words ringing in your ears, have a read of this recent report from the BBC News website.
Role of stress in dementia investigated
By Michelle Roberts, Health editor, BBC News online
UK experts are to begin a study to find out if stress can trigger dementia.
The investigation, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, will monitor 140 people with mild cognitive impairment or “pre-dementia” and look at how stress affects their condition.
The researchers will take blood and saliva samples at six-monthly intervals over the 18 months of the study to measure biological markers of stress.
They hope their work will reveal ways to prevent dementia.
The results could offer clues to new treatments or better ways of managing the condition, they say.
Dementia triggers
People who have mild cognitive impairment are at an increased risk of going on to develop dementia – although some will remain stable and others may improve.
And past work suggests mid-life stress may increase a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
A Swedish study that followed nearly 1,500 women for a period of 35 years found the risk of dementia was about 65% higher in women who reported repeated periods of stress in middle age than in those who did not.
Scottish scientists, who have done studies in animals, believe the link may be down to hormones the body releases in response to stress which interfere with brain function.
Prof Clive Holmes, from the University of Southampton, who will lead the study, said: “All of us go through stressful events. We are looking to understand how these may become a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s.
“Something such as bereavement or a traumatic experience – possibly even moving home – are also potential factors.
“This is the first stage in developing ways in which to intervene with psychological or drug-based treatments to fight the disease.
“We are looking at two aspects of stress relief – physical and psychological – and the body’s response to that experience.”
Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We welcome any research that could shed new light on Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia.
“Understanding the risk factors for Alzheimer’s could provide one piece of the puzzle we need to take us closer to a treatment that could stop the disease in its tracks.”
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Finally, let me leave you with this.
Paul Handover
Once again, Paul, thank you for being so honest and open about yourself as to discuss this important issue. If you will permit me (i.e. not delete me), I will reciprocate:
With the benefit of hindsight, it seems clear to me that I rushed into getting married (at the age of 28) because I was not very good at relating to women and did not rate my chances of getting another opportunity. I was also seduced (probably not the best word but you know what I mean!) by the idea that God is a Matchmaker and that I (or rather He) had found my match when, in fact, I think God was about the only thing me and my ex-wife agreed upon (and even then I am not sure about me!).
So began 15 years of marriage characterised by me falling in and out of work (because I had pursued the wrong vocation) and my ex-wife criticising me for being unable to hold down a job. Within the last 12 years I have thus been on and off anti-depressants several times, wasted an awful lot of time being depressed, and been to see a variety of counsellors who have helped me become more self-aware and given me a great deal of invaluable advice.
The key thing I feel I have learnt is that, unless actively resisted, thinking negative thoughts is self-reinforcing behaviour – my favourite analogy is that of someone walking through a waist-high field of wheat: It is much easier to follow the same path you taken before than to go in a different direction. Wasn’t it you that pointed out that Albert Einstein characterised insanity as being like someone who does the same thing over and over again hoping the outcome will be different? That being the case, allowing depression to get hold of you is a form of insanity, so I am not at all surprised that anxiety (which is another form of obsessive behaviour) should be linked to the later onset of dementia…
Unfortunately – and I really hope this is not a self-fulfilling prophecy – I think my chances of developing it are better-than-average.
Martin Lack
June 29, 2012 at 03:01
Martin, I’m going to offer my thoughts in response later on today, Paul
Paul Handover
June 29, 2012 at 07:20
Just so long as you don’t forget…
Martin Lack
June 29, 2012 at 08:06
I didn’t forget but I’ve sent you something by email. May type it up as a separate Post during the coming days!
Paul Handover
June 30, 2012 at 11:24
Too much stress is dangerous to the mind, or the body. However, it’s also proven that mini stresses make animals stronger… But I forgot the scientific name for that effect, hahaha…
[Actually I did not: hormesis...]
Patrice Ayme
June 30, 2012 at 20:03
anxiety: repeatedly re-experiencing failure in advance.
Dean Gerrie
July 1, 2012 at 20:21
Dean, that’s a good way of putting it. And, if I’m not mistaken, I presume you are the Dean Gerrie that Dan speaks about so often. Welcome to these pages, Paul
Paul Handover
July 2, 2012 at 07:16