Most people who follow the latest news about dementia know that socializing and cognitive stimulation can help protect against the neurological conditions, but new research indicates that stress can undermine that protection.

The Research

A team of researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden set out to examine the potential modifying role of stress on cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve—which may offer some resilience against damage to the brain—is believed to mitigate the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.

The study looked at data from 113 people from a memory care clinic including:

• Cognitive research index (CRI) scores

• Cognition

• Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s

• Levels of perceived stress

• Biomarkers for psychological stress (e.g., cortisol levels in saliva)

CRI scores were tabulated through a variety of factors, including:

• Cognitively stimulating experiences

• Enriching life experiences

• Educational attainment (the average was 14 years)

• Jobs/career (complex tasks vs. repetitive or simple)

• Physical activity

• Leisure activities

• Healthy social interactions

The team then reassessed at a 3-year follow-up.

The Results

The scientific team found that:

• Higher CRI scores were associated with better cognition.

• But when adjusting for cortisol measures, the benefits of higher CRI scores were reduced.

• Higher CRI scores were associated with better working memory.

• But these higher CRI scores were not seen among people with cortisol levels that indicated high levels of psychological stress.

“These results might have clinical implications as an expanding body of research suggests that mindfulness exercises and meditation may reduce cortisol levels and improve cognition,” explained lead study author Manasa Shanta Yerramalla, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. “Different stress management strategies could be a good complement to existing lifestyle interventions in Alzheimer’s prevention.”

Limitations of the study

In addition to the small sample size, the study was limited by the fact that, other than asking whether the participants took sleep medications, lack of sleep was not factored in. Lack of sleep is known to impair cognition.

Still, it’s worth considering the idea that physiological stress reduces the neurocognitive benefits of cognitive reserve, at least among memory clinic patients. Regardless of your risk factor for dementia, it’s vital that everyone—an especially those who lives are saddled with continuously —should be implementing strategies to mitigate its effects on their brain and body.

The results were published in the June 4, 2024 edition of the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

MBJ

Wendy Burt-Thomas writes about the brain, mental health and parenting.

Check out the original research:

https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13866