Here’s How High Levels of Stress Could Impair Your Cognition
Stress is a common experience for many of us, but did you know that it could be affecting your cognitive function in the long term? According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, elevated levels of perceived stress can increase the likelihood of poor cognitive function by 1.37 times, regardless of race. Long Term Impact The study evaluated a cohort of over 24,000 participants aged 45 and older who participated in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. The researchers found that not only is perceived stress associated with poor cognitive function, but it may also be a precursor to cognitive impairment in the long term. The study’s authors noted that perceived stress can have long-lasting effects on physiological and psychological function, making it a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease , accelerated aging, reduced cardiovascular health, and more. Perceived stress may also worsen unhealthy be...