Research Chronic stress can cause Alzheimer's and depression

Stress in the workplace endangers many workers, secondary diseases are not excluded
Are you one of those people who have a lot of stress? If so, they should not underestimate this problem. Stress can trigger some complications that are extremely uncomfortable. Now, a new study claims that stress can trigger or increase both depression and dementia.

Stress is widespread in today's society. The causes of stress may be different, but the negative consequences can in any case have a serious impact on our health. Too much stress in life ultimately leads to depression and dementia, scientists warn in a recent study. The results of their study published the medical profession in the journal "Current Opinion in Psychiatry".

Chronic stress leads to damage in certain key regions of the brain, which are also linked to the development of depression and dementia. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

Damage in key brain regions
Does stress really lead to depression and dementia? Canadian researchers from the Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care tried to find answers to these questions. In a major study, experts from the University of Toronto found that chronic stress and anxiety can trigger damage to key brain regions. These are involved in our emotional reactions. The pathological anxiety and chronic stress are associated with structural degeneration and impaired the function of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the physicians explained in their study. These consequences of stress could potentially increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia. For their study, the researchers analyzed a number of recent studies on anxiety as well as anxiety and stress in animals. In addition, they examined the brain scans in healthy people under stress and anxiety, explained the lead author. Linda Mah. The research team paid special attention to the neural circuits in the brain. These are associated with our fear and anxiety.

Recognize causes of stress and take countermeasures
Short-term, temporary states of anxiety and stress that people experience, for example, before an exam, a job interview or the driving test, are a part of everyday life, explain the physicians. However, when stress and anxiety become a long-term, chronic disease, they can have significant negative consequences on the immune system and our metabolic and cardiovascular systems, the researchers report. This can lead to damage to the brain, warn the experts. However, it should be noted that this type of stress-induced damage to the brain does not have to be permanent. Treatment with antidepressants and physical activity can help to promote regeneration.

In the future, we should try to find out whether measures such as exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy not only reduce our stress but also reduce the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders. Mah. Chronic stress can accelerate Alzheimer's disease in people with mild cognitive impairment. The results show that we should learn to handle stress better - especially in the workplace, the experts warn. The research would prove how damaging unmanageable stress can be. We already know that there is a connection between long-term stress and physical and psychological problems, explain the physicians. We also know that stress is extremely prevalent in the workplace. More than half of the employees (56 percent) said that their work was very or fairly stressful, the researchers added. That is why it is so important that employers recognize and combat the causes of stress and poor mental health. Employees should be supported if they need help against stress in the workplace, the experts concluded.