Cognitive abilities begin to decline from the age of 45, according to research from the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). If this alteration of cognitive functions can manifest itself in multiple ways, it can also be favored by various factors, such as genetic inheritance, social isolation, certain chronic illnesses such as depression, taking certain medications as well as alcohol and tobacco, among others. Scientists have become interested in these factors and have asked themselves if certain negative shocks could represent a risk to develop dementia.
The consequences that shocks can have on the brain
Traumatic events can have consequences on physical and mental health. Some shocks can cause serious repercussions on the brain, as illustrated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which occurs after a traumatic event. A new study has looked more specifically at the repercussions that being subjected to a significant loss of money or assets.
Led by a team of Chinese scientists, the research was carried out by Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou. They analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, a large longitudinal study on health and retirement, conducted among adults over the age of 50 living in the United States. In total, Chinese scientists observed a sample of 8,082 participants, whose average age was 63.7 years.
Higher risk of dementia in people with financial worries
First, scientists defined the concept of “negative heritage trauma“, for people who have suffered a loss of at least 75% of their total wealth over a two-year period. Then, they assessed the participants’ financial situation, including their resources, housing, accounts, shares, but also their debts, mortgages and loans. At the same time, the researchers measured each person’s cognitive functions using a famous questionnaire, the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS), recognized as a diagnostic tool for cognitive assessment. An interview that included tests including immediate recall and delayed recall, serial subtraction and counting backwards.
After analyzing all the results, the researchers found that people who experienced “negative heritage trauma” were more likely to experience cognitive decline and develop dementia than those whose financial situation had remained stable. Additionally, dementia risks were also higher among resource-poor people at study baseline. Furthermore, this correlation was more pronounced in people aged less than 65 years and in white people. “Negative heritage trauma is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and elevated dementia risks among middle-aged and older US adults, with changes by age and ethnicity“, write the authors in their conclusion.
How stressful life events may be linked to dementia risk
In discussions of their study, the scientists point out that “negative heritage trauma” can be seen as a stressful life event. They point in particular to a previous study, based on more than 12,700 Australians aged 70 and over, which demonstrated that unfavorable events occurring at the end of life, including financial problems, were associated with increased risk of dementia.
Chinese scientists also cite experimental data, which previously suggested that “stress can increase activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to dysregulation of glucocorticoid levels, which can increase brain vulnerability and pathological cognitive impairment“. The authors invite new “prospective and interventional studies” to confirm their results.
Sources:
- Study on cognitive decline – Inserm
- Negative Wealth Shock and Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Middle-Aged and Older US Adults – JAMA Network Open
- Adverse events in older adults and the risk of dementia and cognitive decline – Journal of Affective Disorders Reports