Analysis: Negative thinking linked with more rapid cognitive decline, study indicates

Dr Natalie Marchant (UCL Psychiatry) explains how in a new study involving 292 patients aged 55 and older, her team's research found that persistent negative thinking was linked to a decline of cognitive reasoning and revealed indicators of Alzheimer's disease. Dementia affects an estimated 54 million people worldwide. There no cure, but reports indicate that approximately a third of dementia cases may be preventable, which is why many researchers have begun to focus on identifying risk factors. This would allow for better personalised interventions that may be able to reduce risk, delay, or even prevent the onset of dementia. Current research shows that genetics, high blood pressure, and smoking are all risk factors for developing dementia. But a lot of people don't realise that there is also a relationship between mental ill-health and higher dementia risk too. Studies have shown that depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are all linked to a higher risk of developing dementia in older age.