A study was made by Swedish scientists revealed that middle-aged women with neurotic personality style and prolonged stress have higher risks in developing Alzheimer's disease. The study entails tracking 800 women for four decades or nearly 40 years. The scientists found out that women who are more jealous, moody, more anxious and has more stress than others doubled their risk for developing Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia that affects the ability for recall, memory and thinking. Hence, it affects one's ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia at about 60 - 80%. More and more people are affected by this disease.
The study is not saying that these can cause the disease, rather, they are imposing that there is a link between the two. No other study has shown that midlife personality type can increase the risk for Alzheimer's. Furthermore, they said that this data can also be true in men.
Women with an average age of 46 were followed and monitored for 38 years. They underwent testing of neuroticism and extraversion and introversion. Extroverts are outgoing while introverts are shy. Neuroticism is explained as feelings of jealousy, anxiety and having mood swings.
The study showed those women who have prolonged stress and being introverts are at more risk of having the disease while those who are outgoing have lesser risk. One fourth of all women who were introverts developed the disease while only 13% of extrovert women developed Alzheimer's.
It was discovered that women who are easily stressed, distressed and withdrawn would manifest symptoms of dementia. Subsequently, it can affect overall health of the person. However, since the study is limited, it is recommended that further studies are conducted to show a clearer picture of the relationship between neurosis to Alzheimer's disease in middle aged women.
