Professional stress: A major risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundEarly brain ageing (objectified by decreasing the age of onset of neurocognitive impairment) in the 35‐50 age segment has become a major concern for longevity medicine. Hence the need to extensively investigate chronic occupational stress and its effects on human brain, especially when acting as a risk factor for early Alzheimer’s disease. Preventive diagnosis of stress vulnerability, identification of demands that may exceed the individual's ability to respond effectively, quantification and objectification of stress, will help deceleration of early brain aging process.MethodThe study as designed to evaluate professional chronic stress that includes: history of stress in patients’ life, neurocognitive stress scales evaluation, biological evaluation of stress hormones ‐ urinary determination of serotonin, melatonin, adrenalin /noradrenalin, dopamine and salivary cortisol and measurement of heart rate variability.ResultOur study results, based on the evaluation of 100 patients aged between 35‐65 years old, who work in stressful environment, show the link between elevated cortisol levels and the occurrence of clinical manifestations of neurocognitive impairment in the context of persistent occupational stress, and also the presence of depressive disorder in patients’ life history, in the context of changes in stress biomarkers.ConclusionPersistent professional stress can cause changes in the body's normal defense response to stress factors. Early identification of occupational stressors, clinical and biological knowledge of stress as well as the development of preventive and personalized measures, may define a future approach in the context of preventing stress induced pathologies like depression and anxiety, but also neurocognitive disorders (from mild cognitive impairment to early Alzheimer’s disease).