Repetitive negative thinking (worry and rumination) is related to subsequent cognitive decline, as well as the deposition of harmful brain proteins related to Alzheimer’s, for this reason, it should be investigated as a potential risk factor for dementia, according to studies. findings from a new study conducted with people over 55 years of age (Marchant et al., 2020). Likewise, researchers maintain that psychological tools such as mindfulness and meditation should be studied as possible treatments to reduce the risk of dementia.
“Depression and anxiety in middle and old age are already risk factors for dementia. Here, we found that certain thinking patterns implicated in depression and anxiety could be an underlying reason why people with those disorders are more likely to develop dementia,” explained Dr. Natalie Marchant, lead author of the study.
292 people who were part of the PREVENT-AD cohort study, and another 68 people from the IMAP + cohort, participated in the research.
Over a two-year period, participants answered questions about how they typically think about negative experiences, focusing on repetitive negative thinking patterns, such as ruminating about the past and worrying about the future. Participants also completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Their cognitive function was evaluated, measuring memory, attention, spatial cognition and language. PET brain scans were also performed on 113 participants, measuring deposits of tau and amyloid, two proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease when they build up in the brain (the most common type of dementia).
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The researchers found that people who exhibited higher repetitive negative thinking patterns (PNR) experienced greater cognitive decline over a four-year period and declines in memory (which is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease), and they were more likely to have amyloid and tau deposits in their brains.
Depression and anxiety were associated with later cognitive decline, but not with amyloid or tau deposition, suggesting that repetitive negative thinking could be the main reason why depression and anxiety contribute to the risk of CHD. Alzheimer’s.
“Our thoughts can have a biological impact on our physical health, which can be positive or negative. Mental training practices such as meditation can help promote a positive attitude while depressed – regulating negative-associated mental schemas,” explained Dr. Gael Chételat, co-author of the study.
“Taking care of your mental health is important, and should be a top public health priority, as it is not only important for people’s short-term health and well-being, but could also affect their eventual risk of dementia,” he said. .
Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influence at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Understanding the factors that can increase the risk of dementia is vital in helping us improve our knowledge of this devastating condition and, where possible, develop prevention strategies. The link shown between repeated patterns of negative thinking and cognitive decline and harmful deposits is interesting, although we need more research to better understand it. Most people in the study were already identified as being at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, so we would need to see if the results are replicated in the general population and if repeated negative thinking increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers point out, finally, that from the analysis of all the studies together it is interpreted that chronic repetitive negative thinking patterns that last for long periods of time could increase the risk of dementia. And they clarify that they do not believe that the risk will increase due to short-term setbacks.
Bibliographic reference:
Marchant, NL, Lovland, LR, Jones, R., Pichet Binette, A., Gonneaud, J., Arenaza-Urquijo, EM, Chételat, G., Villeneuve, S., & PREVENT-AD Research Group. (2020). Repetitive negative thinking is associated with amyloid, tau, and cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. https://doi.org/
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