Does Chronic Anxiety Increase Dementia Risk?
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Chronic anxiety is a persistent state of excessive fear, dread and uneasiness. Everyone experiences anxiety and stress at some point in their lives, but chronic anxiety is a serious condition that can disrupt a person’s daily life and potentially cause long-term damage to the brain. Research says the extent of that damage could include dementia risk for some people.
A 2024 study found that chronic anxiety can increase adults’ risk for developing dementia by as much as three times. The good news – according to this study and others – is timely management of chronic anxiety reduces dementia risk. It’s never too early to start trying to combat the condition. Individuals among this 2,132-person study whose anxiety resolved did not have a higher dementia risk than people without current or past anxiety.
How does anxiety affect brain health?
Biologically, there is still a lot that researchers do not understand about what mechanisms could tie stress and anxiety to dementia risk. But we at least know that stress and anxiety affect our brain’s ability to function effectively in everyday life.
Anxiety can trigger the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, causing the body to release cortisol, its primary stress hormone. Consistent, chronic anxiety can cause dysfunction within the HPA axis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, leading to consistently high cortisol levels in the body. Research has found that prolonged high cortisol can be detrimental to the hippocampus – a key memory center of the brain – while also increasing a person’s risk for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, immune system dysfunction and mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. Each of these conditions are significant risk factors for dementia.
Think of the body’s fight-or-flight response, in which the body responds to an extremely stressful situation by increasing blood flow to the muscles, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, and decreasing pain and immune system response. This cortisol release is considered positive in the short-term to navigate a stressful situation, but experiencing these symptoms chronically can negatively impact cognitive function.
Additionally, some research has found chronic stress and anxiety to drive pro-inflammatory immune activity that harms neurons in the brain; chronic inflammation is recognized as a significant factor in dementia progression, one that can damage brain cells and accelerate disease progression.
How can I manage chronic anxiety?
Managing and coping with chronic anxiety and other anxiety disorders involves a mixture of lifestyle changes, breathing exercises and recognizing your personal triggers.
Learning which situations or actions increase your anxiety is important. The American Medical Association recommends people with chronic anxiety do an inventory on which situations elicit symptoms. If you find yourself avoiding certain situations or avoiding certain places you can start to dig into why that is. Developing strategies with a mental health professional so you are ready to deal with anxiety in certain situations is a big part of identifying triggers.
Maintaining a healthy diet; avoiding alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs; getting plenty of weekly exercise; and prioritizing sleep can also improve mood and help you manage chronic anxiety. You can also relieve stress by:
- Practicing deep breathing exercises
- Journaling
- Meditating
- Engaging in hobbies and activities you find enjoyable to relax your mind and improve your mood
- Socializing regularly
- Practicing yoga
Working through anxiety takes time. For some people, symptoms may worsen if you avoid seeking help. If your anxiety persists, talking to a professional can help. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network can help members find an in-network mental health professional by calling behavioral health access lines listed below:
PPO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-762-2382
- A free and confidential resource that’s just a call away when you need immediate support. Behavioral health professionals answer, 24/7.
HMO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-482-5982
- Connect with a behavioral health clinician if you need help finding a mental health or substance use provider.
- Behavioral health clinicians are available for routine assistance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For urgent concerns after hours, clinicians are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Related:
Photo credit: Getty Images
