Older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder more likely to develop dementia

According to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appear more likely to develop dementia over a seven-year period than those without PTSD.

“The report suggests there are several reasons why patients with PTSD may have an increased risk of developing dementia. PTSD may contribute to the cause of dementia, or chronic stress may link the two conditions. Stress may damage the hippocampus, a brain area critical for memory and learning, or cause alterations in neurotransmitter and hormone levels that could precipitate dementia.