Analysis: Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to increased risk of dementia

Dr Vasiliki Orgeta (UCL Psychiatry) shares new research which shows that PTSD is a risk factor for developing dementia. Dementia is one of the greatest global health challenges. As the world's population continues to age and to live longer, the number of people affected by dementia is expected to rise to 130 million by 2050. Given that there is no cure for dementia, there's an urgent need to identify modifiable risk factors to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. We've recently identified post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a potential risk factor for developing dementia. PTSD is caused by traumatic experiences such as childhood trauma, war or being the victim of violence or abuse. People with PTSD experience distressing symptoms, often for many years.