When Brittany Butts was a teenager, she saw firsthand how hard it was to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
Her grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and her aunt was the main caregiver. When Butts visited, she would stay with her grandmother so her aunt could take a break. That small bit of free time meant a lot.
Now, as an assistant professor at Emory University’s School of Nursing, Butts is researching just how heavy the toll of caregiving really is.
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is a huge responsibility. People with the disease can easily get confused, wander off, or even hurt themselves. Butts remembers a time when her grandmother nearly caused a fire by using the microwave incorrectly.
Someone has to be present at all times to make sure the person is safe. But while caregivers focus on the health and safety of their loved one, they often forget about their own well-being.
In a recent study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Butts and her team found that the stress of caregiving can go beyond emotional exhaustion—it can actually affect a caregiver’s body on a cellular level.
The study shows that high levels of stress may lead to faster biological aging. Caregivers in the study had shorter telomeres, which are parts of DNA that protect our cells. Shorter telomeres are linked to aging, heart disease, and other serious health conditions.
Butts explains that stress affects the body in many ways. It can raise blood sugar, reduce sleep quality, weaken the immune system, and keep the body in a constant state of alert. Over time, this kind of stress can wear out the body, just like overusing a rubber band or wearing out a pair of jeans.
The study focused on Black caregivers in Atlanta, a group that faces unique challenges. Many Black caregivers report feeling less satisfaction in their role and have fewer financial resources.
They may also face more barriers to accessing healthcare. At the same time, they often play an important role in their communities and families, providing constant care while managing their own lives.
The research team studied 142 Black family caregivers, measuring stress hormones like cortisol and other biological signs of wear and tear. They also asked participants about their feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep.
The results were clear: caregivers who felt more stressed had more mental health challenges, worse sleep, and higher health risks. Their telomeres were also shorter, showing signs of faster aging.
These findings are important because they show that caregivers need more support. Many don’t have time to go to support groups or exercise regularly.
Butts says that new, creative ways of offering help are needed—options that fit into the busy lives of caregivers. This might include programs that offer ways to relax or manage stress without requiring extra time or travel.
Butts also hopes to do more research to understand how health disparities affect Black caregivers. She says that when people struggle to get the care they need, it adds more stress and increases the risk of long-term health problems like heart disease.
In the end, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is an act of love, but it comes with a cost. Studies like this one show that caregivers’ health must be taken seriously. Supporting them is not just about kindness—it’s about protecting their health and well-being too.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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