Here’s a worrisome finding. Having a diagnosis of PTSD is positively associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.
According to a recent study published in Alzheimers and Dementia Kristine Yaffe, MD, from the University of California San Francisco led a group of researchers as they tracked over 180,000 veterans aged 55 and older from 2001 to 2007.
Approximately 53,000 of these veterans had been diagnosed with PTSD, while the remaining 128,000 had no PTSD diagnosis.
At the end of that period, 10.6% of the veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD also developed dementia, while only 6.6% of the other veterans developed it.
And, these results did not substantially change when controlling for such factors as histories of substance abuse, depression or traumatic brain injury.
You’re looking at nearly a 40% greater incidence of dementia for those who were previously diagnosed with PTSD.
This study adds to the growing wealth of information concerning the long term effects of trauma on the body.
And yet, there are so many new ways to help treat trauma.
Because PTSD is so pervasive and because a history of trauma is frequently associated with chronic disease, it is a topic that is brought up often in NICABM’s programs on trauma treatment.
Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience in treating patients with PTSD.
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There are a few interesting points over time in this article but I do not determine if every one of them center to heart. There’s some validity but I am going to take hold opinion until I check into it further. Excellent write-up , thanks therefore we want a lot more! Added to FeedBurner likewise
I have had the same problem since I was young; I have a very strong fear of dying. Often times I will make myself get out of bed and do something to avert my thoughts; mainly I will take a shower and drink a glass of warm milk with vanilla and some sugar. If this doesn’t work, try something a little bit more stimulating that can avert the thoughts, but won’t keep you awake for hours once you lay down. Pick up one of your favorite books, or walk around in your back yard for a bit.. . If it still persists, speak with your doctor. They can prescibe something for you to take when these attacks occur that will sooth your thoughts and help you fall asleep.. . I know how horrible this is. Best of luck.
As a person who was dx’d with pts and who is delighted this day to share that I am recovered and healing on deeper levels than I ever imagined possible, I remember reading about this possibility several years ago. Made sense to me at the time and I appreciated reading about the study. Even more motivation to embrace all that we’ve learned the about the ‘curability’ of pts and do the work of healing.
We ‘lost’ my dear grandmother and precious mother-in-law to dementia and I spent several years working with dementia patients. Today as I opened my email to your note, I also concidentally(?) recvd one from an old high school chum. May I share it with an open heart and deep committment to the healing power of laughter?
“A group of 40 year old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the waiters there had tight pants and nice buns.
10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food there was very good and the wine selection was also good.
10 years later, at 60 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they could eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant had a beautiful view of the ocean.
10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the restaurant was wheel chair accessible and they even had an elevator.
10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.”
Thankyou, Ruth, for your consistent genorosity and determination to share so much knowledge with so many!
All of the new brain research is saying that if you continue to have the anxiety response in the brain this causes damage. If you are able to relax and get the positive hormones working you help the brain stay healthy. Doesn’t it make sense that those with PTSD would continue to have an anxiety response most of the time in their lives and therefore damage the brain tremendously. My mother-in-law grew up in England and one of her houses was bombed during WWII. She definitely had untreated PTSD and eventually had dementia, she passed away as a shell of herself last October.
I would be interested to see a similar study using other kinds of trauma, i.e., non-war related trauma.
I think people with PTSD sometimes think it would be sweet to wipe their memories and regard a blank mind as a relief from suffering. Unfortunately I recently read that a person without dementia watches a sad tv show, knows it’s only a story, and moves quickly on to another activity. A person with dementia watches a sad tv shows, feels sad but doesn’t remember what caused the feeling and therefore remains sad much longer. So instead of dementia bringing the longed for peace, it actually results in even longer periods of sadness.
What’s even worse is that some Alzheimer’s patients can’t differentiate between tv and the real world and actually think whatever is happening on tv is actually happening in their real environment.
One possible cause I don’t see listed among the rule-outs is the use of psychiatric drugs. There is evidence that a number of these drugs, often given to people with PTSD, make early dementia more likely.
Cancer is the least attributed to daitebes of all your options, although some researchers have argued that daitebes may also increase your risk of cancer.We *know* that uncontrolled daitebes can cause cardiovascular disease, blindness, and kidney disease/failure. Cancer is just the most controversial of all those in your list.
Interesting thought, Rob, I don’t know. But that would make a great study.
Thanks Ruth.
I’m wondering if there is a link between ANY diagnosis and dementia. As soon as there’s a diagnosis, is there less of the person there?
Could there then be a link with an absence of a diagnosis and heightened mentia?