Study Shows Dementia Risk Increases If You Have This Mental Health Condition

In a world full of uncertainty and challenges, it’s pretty common to experience anxiety. But while a little stress is normal, chronic anxiety can have a damaging effect on your overall well-being ― including your brain health.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that people who deal with anxiety are more likely to develop dementia as they age.

The study consisted of 2,132 people ages 60 to 81 whose anxiety levels were measured via the Kessler psychological distress scale, a 10-question analysis that measures anxiety and depression. The subjects were followed for 10 years. Each person reported their anxiety level twice during the 10-year period — those who reported anxiety both times were categorized as having chronic anxiety, while folks who reported anxiety only during the second evaluation were defined as having new onset anxiety.

The study found that people with chronic anxiety were 2.8 times more likely to develop dementia, and those with new onset anxiety were 3.2 times more likely, than people who did not report those conditions. Folks who reported anxiety during the first assessment but not the second did not have a higher risk of developing dementia.

How are anxiety and dementia linked?

While an anxious moment can be a normal reaction to a stressful situation, ongoing anxiety is problematic. It’s tied to both cardiovascular disease and brain cell damage, according to the study. Both of these issues can put you at higher risk of developing dementia.

“I’ve been telling my students at Tulane for years that, essentially, if it’s bad for the heart, it’s bad for the brain,” said Dr. Gregory Bix, the director of