Stress is a silent killer. More and more research reiterates this fact on a daily basis, establishing stress as a major risk factor for chronic illnesses. Stress is continually linked to hypertension, heart disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome, Type II diabetes, and arthritis, shared Yale Medicine. The organisation further informed that addiction, substance abuse, behavioural disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety are common secondary diagnoses for people living with chronic stress.
Another study published recently in the JAMA Open Network has revealed that high stress levels can manifest cognitive disabilities after the age of 45.
Stress Causes Cognitive Decline
This study was led by Emory University, Atlanta, and assessed a group of 24,448 people, out of which 59.9% were women, and the rest were men (40.1%). The average age of the participants was 64 years, but their ages ranged from 45 to 98 years. Out of this whole group, around 22.9% of these people said they felt really stressed.
People with more stress were often younger, and more likely to be women. They were also less likely to have a college degree and had lower family income. Additionally, they had more risk factors for heart problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. People with high stress were less active, had higher body weight, and were more likely to smoke.
Considering these additional risk factors, the study found that higher stress was linked to a 1.08 times higher chance of having trouble with cognitive abilities like memory and thinking. Compared to people with low stress, the high-stress group exhibited a 1.37 times higher chance of having cognitive problems.
While talking to the team of OnlyMyHealth, Dr Manoj Kutteri, Medical Director and CEO, Atmantan Wellness Centre, explained, “Stress leads to psychological problems, such as memory and cognitive decline, lack of concentration, and poor decision-making. When a person is exposed to chronic stress, it can affect their personality and behaviour as well.”
Some significant findings of the study were:
- The connection between stress and memory was similar for different ages, races, and sexes.
- People who had persistent or new stress had a higher chance of having memory issues compared to those whose stress improved or who didn't have stress.
- A one-point change in stress was linked to a 4% higher chance of memory issues. If the change was 5 points, the chance of memory problems increased by 26%.
- Stress can lead to lower cognitive scores and faster cognitive decline, especially in older adults.
Stress Management
Talking to the team of OnlyMyHealth, Dr Dhiman Kahali, Director, Interventional Cardiology Department, BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata, shared some tips to help you deal with chronic stress:
- If you have a tough time dealing with stress, consult a mental health professional as soon as possible.
- If seeking professional help isn’t affordable for you, you can join support groups online.
- Practice brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or jogging regularly.
- Make seven to eight hours of quality sleep a daily priority.
- Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are great for calming yourself down and relaxing your mind.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet daily.
The study concluded that some of the reasons for this stress-induced cognitive decline can be the effect on stress hormones, brain structure, and cognitive performance. Either way, understanding this connection among different groups of people is crucial for designing effective interventions and public health measures to successfully combat the epidemic of stress.
