Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenge in the U.S. About 19% of American adults have an anxiety disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.
About 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s dementia and, barring any medical breakthroughs, that number could reach 13.8 million by 2060.
These statements are more connected than you may have guessed.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found a link between anxiety (chronic and new-onset) and a higher risk of dementia.
The research team, associated with the University of Newcastle in Australia, analyzed medical data on more than 2,000 people who were followed for 10 years, on average. The average age in the group was 76.
Participants with chronic anxiety had a 2.8 times higher risk of developing dementia during the study period, compared with participants who did not have anxiety. Those with new-onset anxiety had a 3.2 times higher risk of developing dementia.
Risks were even higher for those whose anxiety started before age 70.
The good news is that resolved anxiety was not associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Researchers write, “These results suggest that timely management of anxiety may be a viable strategy in reducing the risk of dementia.”
Relief from anxiety is possible. Research published in 2020 in the Journal of Affective Disorders concluded that about 70% of participants with a history of generalized anxiety disorder were later free from the disorder and 40% were in “excellent mental health.”
