Negative Thinking Is Linked To An Increased Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Negative thinking is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease

It turned out that repeated negative thinking is associated not only with a deterioration in cognitive abilities, but also with the deposition of tau protein and amyloid in the brain.

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Scientists call repeated negative thinking a systematic worry about the future and frequent repetition, “chewing,” of unpleasant memories. Previously, some studies showed that people who are prone to repeating negative thoughts are more likely to have cognitive problems, such as memory impairments.

A new study has shown that negative repetitive thinking (PNM) is associated with deposits of abnormal proteins in the brain that can cause Alzheimer's disease. The scientific work was published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.

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The study involved 360 people over the age of 55. Over the course of two years, they periodically took surveys about negative experiences and ISM patterns. Scientists also identified the symptoms of depression and anxiety in the participants, investigated various aspects of their cognitive functions.

113 study participants underwent a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain, which measured the levels of two proteins associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease - tau protein and amyloid.

Depression and anxiety in this study were associated with cognitive impairment, which was consistent with previous data. But these pathologies were not associated with increased deposits of tau protein and amyloid.

It turned out that people who showed a greater propensity for MSI were more likely to have cognitive impairment and were more likely to have abnormal proteins in the brain.

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“We hypothesize that rethinking negative thinking may be a new risk factor for Alzheimer's because it can make unique contributions to its development,” said Professor Natalie L. Marchant of University College London.

Scientists speculate that PNI may contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's disease by raising blood pressure. It was previously known that psychological stress is associated with the deposition of tau protein and amyloid.