Molly Delaney, Class of 2022
Stress has long been linked to many harmful neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is often characterized by dementia and a regression of mental capacities. As stress levels continue to rise, with modern stressors such as education, healthcare, government and politics, and economics or finances, there have been claims that Alzheimer’s disease is becoming more and more of an issue to many people. Stress has many injurious effects on the body, and they have been “becoming increasingly clear in the case of neurodegenerative diseases” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). Not only does high stress levels exacerbate the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, but “excessive levels of stress can cause and exacerbate disease” due to the elevation of corticosteroid levels via the Hypothalamic-Pituitary -Adrenal axis (Justice, 2018, NCBI). The devastating figures of Alzheimer’s disease and other neural disorders warrants further investigation into the health issue.
Initial scientific investigation of stress first began under Hans Selye, but the ancient Greeks, specifically Hippocrates, first defined stress as “not only pathos (suffering), but also ponos (toil), as the body fought to restore normalcy” (Rosch). Today’s definition of stress, however, was “coined by Hans Selye in 1936, who defined it as ‘the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” (Rosch). Stress is an increasingly prevalent issue in today’s society as “75% of Americans say they felt the negative side effects of stress” (Gannon, 2015). On top of that, most people do not have solid coping mechanisms when faced with extreme stress which only brings more harm onto the body. It is common to attempt to distract yourself rather than finding effective and healthy ways to cope.
It is important to comprehend how and why stress can exacerbate the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or NCBI, wild mice were placed in situations that significantly raised their stress levels which led to an increase in AAP, a protein, and the Aβ peptide which are both present in Alzheimer’s development. This agglomeration of the protein and peptide occured when the mice were placed in both immensely and minimally stressful situations (Justice, 2018, NCBI). The NCBI was able to further conclude that when in stressful situations, the tau protein in the body can become hyperphosphorylated and tangled. Tangles such as these are often “responsible for neuronal death in AD [Alzheimer’s disease]” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). Also, the Alzheimer’s Society has found that when stressed, the hormone cortisol is released, which is often “linked to problems with memory” (Alzheimer’s Society). Furthermore, stress has been found to be linked to anxiety and depression which can also increase the risk of dementia (Alzheimer’s Society).
There are unfortunately a myriad of experiments and investigations directly concerning humans and the development of Alzheimer’s disease in relation to stress levels. In another study done by the NCBI, 13,000 patients were “tracked over the course of 50 years, [and] the coincidence of depressive symptoms and dementia...[were] two-fold” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). When patients who already were showing symptoms of dementia began showing depressive symptoms as well, it was concluded that the “ depression-related symptoms correlate with accelerated loss in brain tissue density and an increased likelihood of conversion from MCI [mild cognitive impairment] to dementia” (Justice, 2019, NCBI). In a project called the Rush Memory and Aging Project, patients who were extremely distressed were “2.7-fold more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in the next three years” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). In relation to PTSD specifically, there is a “correlation between early life trauma and later susceptibility to dementia” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). For example, studies have been done on people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and it was discovered that these people had an increased risk for developing dementia by up to 25% (Sandoiu, 2019). These are just a few of many experiments that have found that there is an association between Alzheimer’s and/or neurodegenerative disorders and stress.
There are many complications that arise when conducting studies concerning the effect stress may have on the development of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, it is difficult to quantify stress since we all experience it so differently and independently. There are also other compounding factors that can be involved in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease such as depression and sleep deprivation. Ultimately, the Alzheimer’s Society has concluded that “ stress could play a role in dementia development but is unlikely to be the only factor that causes the condition. There is still much to be understood about what mechanisms could underlie any links between stress and dementia risk” (Alzheimer’s Society). In total, as stress levels continue to rise, it is important to note the detrimental and unhealthy side-effects that may occur as a result.
Works Cited
Gannon, M. (2015, February 5). What stresses Americans out the most? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/49706-what-stresses-americans-survey.html
Is there a link between stress and dementia risk? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/there-link-between-stress-and-dementia-risk
Justice, N. (2018, February 8). The relationship between stress and Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5991350/
Rosch, P. Reminiscences of Hans Selye, and the Birth of “Stress” Retrieved from https://www.stress.org/about/hans-selye-birth-of-stress/
Sandoiu, A. (2019, January 18). Stress may raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324224.php
What is stress? Retrieved from https://www.stress.org/what-is-stress/
Initial scientific investigation of stress first began under Hans Selye, but the ancient Greeks, specifically Hippocrates, first defined stress as “not only pathos (suffering), but also ponos (toil), as the body fought to restore normalcy” (Rosch). Today’s definition of stress, however, was “coined by Hans Selye in 1936, who defined it as ‘the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” (Rosch). Stress is an increasingly prevalent issue in today’s society as “75% of Americans say they felt the negative side effects of stress” (Gannon, 2015). On top of that, most people do not have solid coping mechanisms when faced with extreme stress which only brings more harm onto the body. It is common to attempt to distract yourself rather than finding effective and healthy ways to cope.
It is important to comprehend how and why stress can exacerbate the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or NCBI, wild mice were placed in situations that significantly raised their stress levels which led to an increase in AAP, a protein, and the Aβ peptide which are both present in Alzheimer’s development. This agglomeration of the protein and peptide occured when the mice were placed in both immensely and minimally stressful situations (Justice, 2018, NCBI). The NCBI was able to further conclude that when in stressful situations, the tau protein in the body can become hyperphosphorylated and tangled. Tangles such as these are often “responsible for neuronal death in AD [Alzheimer’s disease]” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). Also, the Alzheimer’s Society has found that when stressed, the hormone cortisol is released, which is often “linked to problems with memory” (Alzheimer’s Society). Furthermore, stress has been found to be linked to anxiety and depression which can also increase the risk of dementia (Alzheimer’s Society).
There are unfortunately a myriad of experiments and investigations directly concerning humans and the development of Alzheimer’s disease in relation to stress levels. In another study done by the NCBI, 13,000 patients were “tracked over the course of 50 years, [and] the coincidence of depressive symptoms and dementia...[were] two-fold” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). When patients who already were showing symptoms of dementia began showing depressive symptoms as well, it was concluded that the “ depression-related symptoms correlate with accelerated loss in brain tissue density and an increased likelihood of conversion from MCI [mild cognitive impairment] to dementia” (Justice, 2019, NCBI). In a project called the Rush Memory and Aging Project, patients who were extremely distressed were “2.7-fold more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in the next three years” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). In relation to PTSD specifically, there is a “correlation between early life trauma and later susceptibility to dementia” (Justice, 2018, NCBI). For example, studies have been done on people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and it was discovered that these people had an increased risk for developing dementia by up to 25% (Sandoiu, 2019). These are just a few of many experiments that have found that there is an association between Alzheimer’s and/or neurodegenerative disorders and stress.
There are many complications that arise when conducting studies concerning the effect stress may have on the development of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, it is difficult to quantify stress since we all experience it so differently and independently. There are also other compounding factors that can be involved in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease such as depression and sleep deprivation. Ultimately, the Alzheimer’s Society has concluded that “ stress could play a role in dementia development but is unlikely to be the only factor that causes the condition. There is still much to be understood about what mechanisms could underlie any links between stress and dementia risk” (Alzheimer’s Society). In total, as stress levels continue to rise, it is important to note the detrimental and unhealthy side-effects that may occur as a result.
Works Cited
Gannon, M. (2015, February 5). What stresses Americans out the most? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/49706-what-stresses-americans-survey.html
Is there a link between stress and dementia risk? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/there-link-between-stress-and-dementia-risk
Justice, N. (2018, February 8). The relationship between stress and Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5991350/
Rosch, P. Reminiscences of Hans Selye, and the Birth of “Stress” Retrieved from https://www.stress.org/about/hans-selye-birth-of-stress/
Sandoiu, A. (2019, January 18). Stress may raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324224.php
What is stress? Retrieved from https://www.stress.org/what-is-stress/
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