Stress-related disorders linked to neurodegenerative disease

(HealthDay)—Stress-related disorders are associated with an increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases, according to a study published online March 9 in JAMA Neurology.

Huan Song, M.D., Ph.D., from West China Hospital in Chengdu, and colleagues examined the association between stress-related disorders and risk for neurodegenerative diseases in a population-matched and sibling cohort study. The population-matched cohort included 61,748 exposed individuals matched with 595,335 unexposed individuals; the sibling cohort analysis included 44,839 exposed individuals and their 78,482 unaffected full siblings.

The researchers found that individuals with a stress-related disorder were at an increased risk for neurodegenerative disease compared with unexposed individuals (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.43 to 1.73). A greater risk increase was seen for vascular neurodegenerative diseases than primary neurodegenerative diseases (HRs, 1.80 [95 percent CI, 1.40 to 2.31] and 1.31 [95 percent CI, 1.15 to 1.48], respectively). A statistically significant association was seen for Alzheimer disease (HR, 1.36; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.67), but the associations were not significant for Parkinson disease (HR, 1.20; 95 percent CI, 0.98 to 1.47) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (HR, 1.20; 95 percent CI, 0.74 to 1.96).

"The underlying mechanisms behind this association, primarily the role of cerebrovascular factors, warrant further studies," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.