Dementia Risk Higher if Your Spouse Has Dementia
Fourfold Increase in Dementia Risk for Elderly Women Whose Husbands Have Dementia
Manage Stress, Reduce Risk continued...
He says study after study shows that spouse caregivers are more likely than noncaregivers to be depressed, socially isolated, and neglect their own health.
His own research suggests that the stress hormone cortisol plays a major role in dementia by increasing insulin levels. There is evidence that excess circulating insulin in the brain causes lesions similar to those believed to cause Alzheimer's disease.
"It is clear that depression and stress hormones affect memory and the brain," Vitaliano tells WebMD. "Caregivers often report chronic stress, which means they are pumping out a lot of cortisol."
His research also suggests that caregivers who manage stress with antidepressants, exercise, and a strong social network have better overall health.
"It amazes me that caregivers often think that denying their own needs makes them better caregivers," Vitaliano says. "In reality, the complete opposite is true."