Midlife personality and risk of Alzheimer disease and distress

Johansson, Lena; Guo, Xinxin; Duberstein, Paul R.; Hällström, Tore; Wærn, Margda; Östling, Svante; Skoog, Ingmar

doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000000907

Cited by 105 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…First, psychological stress was based on a subjective personal response to a single question. Our question on stress has however been used in several previous studies and is found to be related to a number of life stressors and high neuroticism [3,4]. Second, all analyses were conducted in relatively small samples, resulting in low statistical power.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported associations between longstanding stress and late-life dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) [1], and late-life structural brain changes, such as temporal lobe atrophy and white matter lesions [2]. We have also found that high neuroticism, a stress-prone personality trait, and increased number of stressful life events were related to AD risk [3,4]. Other longitudinal studies have reported associations between stress disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder), stress-prone personality, and dementia [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Midlife Stress in Relation to Late-Life Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study

Johansson

Kern

Zetterberg

et al. 2018

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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Background/Aims: Psychological stress has previously been associated with higher risk of developing late-life dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study tested whether longstanding midlife stress is related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of late-life AD, such as tau protein and amyloid beta (Aβ). Methods: The study included 79 nondemented females from the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, who responded to a standardized stress question at baseline (mean age 49 years) and underwent a lumbar puncture at follow-up 25 years later. Multiple linear regression models analyzed the relationships between midlife psychological stress and late-life CSF measures of total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), Aβ40, and Aβ42. Results: Longstanding stress in midlife was associated with higher levels of CSF t-tau (β = 0.64, p = 0.01) and Aβ40 (β = 0.60, p = 0.02) in late life. No associations were found between midlife stress and levels of p-tau or Aβ42. Conclusion: The findings suggest that longstanding stress stimulates unspecific neurodegenerative processes, but not the core processes of AD, at least not in the early phase of the disease. The association with higher concentration of CSF t-tau may reflect neural degeneration and the association with higher Aβ40 may be an early sign of Aβ overproduction or cerebrovascular processes in the brain.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Midlife Stress in Relation to Late-Life Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study

Johansson

Kern

Zetterberg

et al. 2018

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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“…Cross-sectional observations pointed to the presence of high levels of Neuroticism and low levels of consciousness both in AD [40] and MCI cases [41]. Previous longitudinal studies supported the association between higher levels of Neuroticism both in midlife and old age and dementia as well as MCI risk [14,42,43]. In contrast, higher conscientiousness conferred protection against dementia and MCI, but this effect was marginal in most of the previous studies [18] and absent in the present series.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality-Related Determinants of Subtle Cognitive Decline in Old Age: A Population-Based Study

Rodriguez

Albanese

Pegna

et al. 2016

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord Extra

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Background/Aims: Recent studies of cases with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suggested that besides Alzheimer disease (AD)-related biomarkers, some personality dimensions are associated with progression to AD. To date, there are no studies addressing the psychological determinants of subtle cognitive decline in healthy elderly controls. Methods: 488 community-dwelling healthy controls were assessed with a detailed neuropsychological battery at baseline and an 18-month follow-up. Personality factors and facets were investigated at baseline using the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R). Upon follow-up, there were 264 stable controls (sCON) and 224 deteriorating controls (dCON). Their personality data were compared to those of the 102 MCI cases using one-way analysis of variance and logistic regression models. Results: Significantly higher scores of Openness factor (as well as Aesthetics, Ideas and Values facets) were found in sCON than in both dCON and MCI cases. The three groups did not differ in the other NEO-PI-R factor and facet scores. Openess factor (and the same facets) was associated with cognitive preservation in healthy controls (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.87). Lower scores in the same factor and facets conferred higher risk to have MCI (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.79). Conclusion: Higher openness to new experiences and thoughts may be a protective factor against early cognitive decline in brain aging.

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“…Rezultati istraživanja upućuju da je neuroticizam u srednjoj životnoj dobi povezan s povećanim rizikom od demencije u AB te da stres posreduje u ovoj povezanosti. Rezultati imaju kliničke implikacije jer je identificirana skupina žena pod rizikom za demenciju u AB (9). Osim kognitivnih sposobnosti vrlo je važno pratiti i promjene ličnosti -od početne anksioznosti i depresije do smanjene kontrole emocionalnih reakcija koja, uz potpunu nemogućnost uvida i nekritičnost, nastaje u krajnjoj fazi ove bolesti.…”

Section: Diagnosing Dementiaunclassified

“…DSM-5 definira tri sindroma: delirij, veliki neurokognitivni poremećaj, blagi neurokognitivsuggest that neuroticism in middle age is associated with an increased risk of dementia in AD and that stress modulates this association. The results have clinical implications because a group of women at risk of dementia in AD has been identified (9). Apart from cognitive abilities, it is very important to follow changes in the personality -from initial anxiety and depression to reduced control over emotional reactions which, along with a complete lack of insight and self-reflection, appears in the last stage of this disease.…”

Section: Diagnosing Dementiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Dementia is More Frequent in Women

et al. 2018

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Demencija je sindrom globalnog i progresivnog oštećenja stečenih kognitivnih sposobnosti pri očuvanoj svijesti prouzročen organskom bolešću središnjeg živčanog sustava u kojem su posebno oštećene sposobnosti pamćenja, učenja, apstraktnog mišljenja, orijentacije te poimanja vidno-prostornih odnosa. Prevalencija i incidencija Alzheimerove bolesti (AB), najčešćeg uzroka demencije, znatno je veća kod žena nego kod muškaraca, a ta se razlika s dobi povećava. Dvostruko veća učestalost AB kod žena u odnosu na muškarce djelomično se može objasniti time što žene imaju očekivano dulji životni vijek. Žene imaju lošiju kognitivnu izvedbu na mnogim neuropsihologijskim testovima u odnosu na muškarce u istom stadiju bolesti, odnosno višestruke kognitivne funkcije kod žena teže su i šire zahvaćene nego kod muškaraca. Mogući razlozi za ovakvu nepovoljnost naspram žena su redukcija estrogena u postmenopauzi, veće kognitivne rezerve muškaraca te utjecaj apolipoproteina E. Određeni biološki čimbenici također bi mogli objasniti različite kliničke manifestacije AB s obzirom na spol. Osim što prema prezentiranim podatcima žene češće obolijevaju od AB, žene su također te koje u bitno većoj mjeri pružaju neformalnu njegu ljudima s demencijom, te su oko dvije trećine neformalnih njegovatelja žene. Zaključno, u daljnjem istraživačkom i kliničkom radu s AB svakako bi trebalo obratiti pozornost na spoznaje o spolnim razlikama u razvoju i progresiji ove bolesti. / Dementia is a syndrome of global and progressive impairment of acquired cognitive abilities with

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Midlife personality and risk of Alzheimer disease and distress

Abstract: Our study suggests that midlife neuroticism is associated with increased risk of AD dementia, and that distress mediates this association. The results have clinical implications because a group of women at risk of AD dementia is identified.

Cited by 105 publications

References 35 publications

Midlife Stress in Relation to Late-Life Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study

Midlife Stress in Relation to Late-Life Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study

Personality-Related Determinants of Subtle Cognitive Decline in Old Age: A Population-Based Study

Dementia is More Frequent in Women

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