A new study conducted by researchers from Emory University suggests that there is a link between perceived stress and cognitive impairment.
The study involved 24,448 people, both Black and White, with an average age of 64 years, who participated in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.
The study found that nearly 23% of the participants reported high levels of stress.
Those with higher levels of stress had a higher chance of having poor cognition, even after adjusting for factors such as sociodemographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression.
The risk of poor cognition was 1.37 times higher for those with high-stress levels compared to those with low-stress levels.
The study also found a strong association between changes in the Perceived Stress Scale score and incident cognitive impairment, even after adjusting for other factors.
This means that as perceived stress levels increased, so did the likelihood of developing cognitive impairment over time.
The results of the study suggest that regular screening and targeted interventions for stress may be necessary for older adults.
It is important to note that the study found no impact on the results from age, race, or sex, meaning that the association between stress and cognitive impairment applies to individuals regardless of these factors.
In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of managing stress in order to prevent cognitive decline and maintain cognitive health in older adults.
Regular screening for stress and implementing targeted interventions may be key to achieving this goal.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and common mental health drug may reduce COVID-19 symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The study was published online in JAMA Network Open.
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