PTSD and dementia

Military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could be at an increased risk of dementia. Researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Texas studied 10,481 veterans, aged 65 and over, who had been seen at the centre between 1997 and 1999, following their progress until 2008. 11.1% of those who had PTSD but who had not been injured in combat developed dementia and 7.2% of those who had PTSD but who had been injured did so compared to 4.5% and 5.9% respectively in those who did not have PTSD. The results remained significant even after other risk factors for dementia, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease were taken into account.

You can find out more about this research by clicking on the link in the title of this post.