Anxiety is a feeling experienced by everyone, but extreme anxiety in old age can increase the risk of dementia, so caution is needed. Learn about the symptoms of anxiety disorder in the elderly and how to cope with it.

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Palpitations and dizziness are common symptoms

Anxiety disorders are divided into generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder based on symptoms. Among these, the most common symptom in the elderly is generalized anxiety disorder. Typical symptoms in elderly patients with generalized anxiety disorder include overestimating the severity of illness when their hands or feet become slightly cold, or assuming hair loss has begun after noticing a few hairs falling out. Physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, and increased blood pressure also appear much more severely than in other age groups.

◇ Neglect increases the risk of stroke

Neglecting anxiety disorders in the elderly increases the risk of stroke. Repeated physical symptoms caused by stress hormones lead to high blood pressure and peripheral vasoconstriction, but since the vascular and nervous systems in the elderly are already aging, they react more sensitively to these changes. A study from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States found that people with anxiety disorders have a 33% higher risk of stroke compared to those without.

◇Risk of dementia up to 7.2 times higher

People who frequently experience anxiety, such as elderly individuals with anxiety disorders, are at a higher risk of dementia. A research team from the University of Newcastle in Australia studied 2,123 elderly people with an average age of 76 to investigate the relationship between anxiety symptoms and the development of dementia. As a result, those with chronic anxiety had a 2.8 times higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without anxiety.

The degree of increased risk was highest among those under 70 years old. Participants aged 60 to 70 with chronic anxiety were 4.6 times more likely to develop dementia, while the risk in the same age group with newly onset anxiety increased significantly to 7.2 times. The research team explained that people experiencing anxiety are at higher risk of falling into unhealthy lifestyle habits such as unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and smoking, which ultimately increase the risk of dementia.

Managing stress through hobby activities

Generalized anxiety disorder can be treated with medication. Antidepressants are used, and anxiolytics may be used for a short period if necessary. If you are already taking medications for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, or other conditions, it is important to use medications that do not diminish the effectiveness of your current drugs. In addition to medication, various psychological therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and other methods can be combined.

Generalized anxiety disorder is difficult to prevent. However, managing stress through regular meditation, relaxation, exercise, and hobbies, reducing caffeine intake from coffee and energy drinks, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can be helpful.

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Isn't anxiety the same as fear?

Dementia is really more than just a special condition or other illnesses.

It's a disease you don't want to catch.

Just because you don't want to get infected doesn't mean you won't get infected.

Positive thinking, I keep feeling anxious about it.

Just thinking about it makes my body feel worse.