Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Linked To Higher Dementia Risk In Older Veterans
Editor's ChoiceMain Category: Schizophrenia
Also Included In: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen; Anxiety / Stress
Article Date: 08 Jun 2010 - 9:00 PDT
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Veterans aged 55 years or older with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) appear to have a higher risk of developing dementia over a 7-year period, compared to individuals without PTSD, says a new report published in Archives of Psychiatry today, a JAMA/Archives journal.
PTSD occurs in a significant number of veterans returning from conflict areas or war zones, the article informs. Up to 17% of veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan are thought to have PTSD, while 10% to 15% of Vietnam veterans had PTSD symptoms for at least 15 years after their return. Previous studies have linked PTSD to a wide variety of medical conditions in younger and middle-aged veterans, along with declines in thinking, learning and memory (cognitive performance).
Kristine Yaffe, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and team studied 181,093 veterans, aged 55 years and older (average age 68.8, 96.5% men) between 1997 and 2000. 53,155 of them had PTSD and 127,938 did not.
During a 7-year follow up (2000-2007), 17.2% (31,107) of the veterans developed dementia. Meaning:
- A 10.6% risk of developing dementia for veterans with PTSD
- A 6.6% risk of developing dementia for veterans without PTSD
The authors wrote:
There are several reasons why patients with PTSD may have an increased risk of developing dementia.
PTSD may be a risk factor for dementia, or chronic stress may link the two conditions. Stress may harm the hippocampus, a brain area critical for memory and learning, or cause alterations in neurotransmitter and hormone levels that could hasten dementia.
The authors concluded:
The finding that PTSD is associated with a near doubling of the risk of dementia has important public health, policy and biological implications. It is important that those with PTSD are treated, and further investigation is needed to see whether successful treatment of PTSD may reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes, including dementia. In addition, it is critical to follow up patients with PTSD, especially if they are of an advanced age, to screen for cognitive impairment. Finally, mechanisms linking PTSD and dementia must be identified in hope of finding ways to improve the care and outcomes of patients with PTSD.
"Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Risk of Dementia Among US Veterans"
Kristine Yaffe; Eric Vittinghoff; Karla Lindquist; Deborah Barnes; Kenneth E. Covinsky; Thomas Neylan; Molly Kluse; Charles Marmar
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(6):608-613.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
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Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (1)
Profoundly Important - Many PTSD Conditions Alongside Metabolic Ailments, Wrong Diet, Kidney Pains And Diabetes Can Be Seriously M
posted by Jonas Yazdani on 8 Jun 2010 at 8:56 pmI deeply appreciate this issue that could help all those who have struggled to serve helping others, either at home, helping refugees, and empathizing with their sufferings, may be 'burned out' and have their own trauma worsened, if not appreciated and encouraged for their hardships.
The same is true for all other servicemen and women abroad serving as International Peacemakers, observers, educating and rebuilding teams. Those who have helped others while themselves suffering from multiple trauma, may be noticed for their strong ability to empathize - However, this ability can be extremely burdening if not recognized appreciated and assisted by others.
Some persons may have multiple post traumatic experiences, and mishandling their sufferings can become a most costly affair, let alone a very cruel situation to place someone who may have struggled to help others by feeling and understanding others' pains.
I speak from my own experience, as strong personal sufferings and trauma tend to cause memory lapses as 'security valves' in order to recuperate.
In my view, stimulation of mental focus, enriching vocational activities, kind encouragement and positive mentoring, help towards resolving problems and pleasant outlook, all could help towards recuperation and healthy activities.
Abandonment and resulting despondency is a very dangerous thing, as certain persons with less social experience and background, may easily become discouraged and their body metabolizm may enter into a spiral of depression and hopelessness.
Persons who have shown great empathy and striven to serve otehrs need every encouragement they can get so that their memory could improve through positive encouragement, increased happiness and feeling of security.
Previously vulnerable persons may have great difficulty in recuperating and need to be encouraged with a positive perspective, so that a healthy could help towards a new phase in life, where experiences could serve as an advantage and not a helpless detriment.
Medical malpractice through reckless drug administration is a very harmful and cruel outlook - However, certain may have earlier ailments which may attention - however all abuse of medication complicates the outlook for most people.
Even physiotherapists intending to help persons who have suffered PTSD and syndromes need to have psychological insight and care should be taken to take care of all underlying physical ailments through proper encouragement and training by health professionals as experienced dietitians.
Encouragement positive outlook therapy in itself is understandably crucial to memory, as happy people tend to function better !
If encouragement therapy and proper understanding of the condition is delayed, or misunderstood, the resulting medical malpractice and wrong medications could lead to irreparable neurological and cardiovascular damage with the resulting concentration problems and even dementia as documented in this article.
Thank you !
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