It is well established that people with mild cognitive impairment are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Now, a new study suggests that experiencing anxiety alongside mild cognitive impairment can further increase this risk.

Share on Pinterest Researchers find that anxiety may speed up cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment, meaning they may develop Alzheimer’s at a much faster pace.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is described as changes in cognitive function – such as memory and thinking skills – that can be noticed by others or the individual experiencing the changes, but these are changes that are not severe enough to disrupt day-to-day life.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, studies estimate that around 10-20% of people aged 65 and older have MCI. Many individuals with MCI go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease within a few years of diagnosis.

But this latest study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, suggests that anxiety speeds up cognitive decline in people with MCI, meaning they may develop Alzheimer’s at a much faster pace.

According to the research team – including principal investigator Dr. Linda Mah, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a clinician-scientist at the Baycrest Health Sciences’ Rotman Research Institute, both in Canada – there is growing evidence indicating that late-life depression may be an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s, and anxiety has been linked to depressive disorders.

However, Dr. Mah and colleagues note that no studies have looked specifically at how anxiety influences progression to Alzheimer’s in patients with MCI. As such, they set out to investigate this association.