Study links stress in middle-aged women with Alzheimer's

A new study has linked high stress in middle-aged women with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life.

The American Academy of Neurology followed 800 women between the ages 38 and 54 for almost four decades. It found 104 of those women developed Alzheimer's disease, but the rate was much greater for those who claimed to be stressed out, compared with those who considered themselves laid back.

"They're just looking at the association between neuroticism and Alzheimer's disease," Dean Hartley, the Alzheimer's Association Scientific Initiatives Director said. "It is not causation. We need more studies like this to look at particular risk factors."

Researchers did note that personality could influence other lifestyle choices like exercise, nutrition and social interactions that could also be connected to developing Alzheimer's.