Persistent negative thinking has been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and should be further investigated, according to researchers.
Researchers from UCL, INSERM and McGill University studied 360 people aged over 55 and found that repetitive negative thinking (RNT) was linked to later cognitive decline and also the deposition of harmful brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.
According to the study, which was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the link may be due to the impact of RNT on indicators of stress such as high blood pressure.
Study participants were asked questions over two years about how they typically think about negative experiences, and they also completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms.
The researchers suggested RNT be further investigated as a potential risk factor for dementia, and that psychological tools such as mindfulness and meditation be studied to see if these could reduce dementia risk.
Source: ScienceDaily
