Highly stressed people are more than twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment as their less stressed peers according to this study. The research studied the connection between chronic stress and a condition known as “amnestic mild cognitive impairment” (aMCI), primarily seen as memory loss. Many people with this form of memory loss go on to develop Alzheimer’s in the following months or years.
“Fortunately, perceived stress is a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, making it a potential target for treatment.” said study first author, Mindy Katz, M.P.H., senior associate in the Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology at Einstein.