Stress & Alzheimer's Disease

According to the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 5.3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. (See www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp). Even more people suffer from some degree of stress, leading the World Health Organization to refer to stress as a "World Wide Epidemic." (www.tm.cme.safire.com/post_traumatic_stress/03.html) Over the past few years, a large body of research has focused on the relationship between these two conditions.

History

• In the early 1900's, physician Alois Alzheimer treated a middle-aged patient who was suffering from increased memory and language problems. When the patient eventually died, Alzheimer discovered two unique characteristics of the patients brain: neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques. These two characteristics would become the hallmark identifying feature of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

  Stress has been around as long as people have. However, it wasn't until 1932 when the term "stress" was coined by Walter Cannon in his work related to fight-or-flight response. (www.healthcentral.com/anxiety) Since then, the term stress has become part of our everyday vernacular.

Stress And Its Role In The Development of Alzheimer's Disease

• In 2006, researchers at the University of California concluded that stress hormones accelerate the formation of the brain legions associated with Alzheimer's disease. The conclusion was based on a study involving mice which were injected with dexamethasone, a chemical similar to stress hormones. A later study supported these results, finding that after three days of living in stressful isolation, mice had 42 percent more amyloid beta peptide (the molecule known to cause neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques) in their brain than mice who were not subjected to these stressful conditions.

Loss Of A Spouse

• Not all research linking stress to Alzheimer's is based on mice. Several studies have shown a possible link between the loss of a spouse and the development of Alzheimer's. Moreover, according to Rudolph Tanzi at Harvard Medical School, a study involving 800 individuals found that individuals who experience frequent negative emotions are at twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who take a more relaxed approach to life.

Treatment

• As a result of the association between stress and Alzheimer's, doctors are recognizing the importance of stress management in treating and preventing, or at least delaying, Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, certain drugs which combat the neurological effects of stress could be valuable for patients suffering, or likely to suffer, from Alzheimer's disease. (www.longevitymeme.org)

Reducing Stress

• Christine Kennard at www.ouralzheimer.com, notes that there are several things you can do to reduce stress and consequently slow the development of Alzheimer's disease. Kennard notes that memory aids (such as making lists and notes), medicine dispensers, and developed routines can all help reduce stress. (www.healthcentral.com) Moreover, avoiding stressful situations and asking for help can alleviate stress. (www.healthcentral.com)