PTSD Symptoms in Women May Increase Cardiovascular, Neurocognitive Disease Risk

High levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women was associated with greater risk of carotid artery disease, according to astudy inJAMA Network Open. Further, among women who tested positive for the Alzheimer ’s risk gene APOEε4, greater PTSD symptoms were associated with greater brain small vessel disease and poorer cognitive performance.“Women have double the risk of PTSD relative to men,” wrote Rebecca Thurston, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh and colleagues. “PTSD is associated with a 50% to 60% increased risk of incident [cardiovascular disease] and elevated stroke and dementia risk. While evolving literature links PTSD to women’s cardiovascular and neurocognitive health, key questions remain.”Thurston and colleagues analyzed data collected as part of the MsBrain study, which investigated menopause and brain health and included women aged 45 to 67. The data were drawn from the following measures:Genetic tests to determine if the participants had the APOE ε4 gene.Carotid ultrasonographic examinations to measure the participants ’ carotid intima media thickness, which is an indicator of carotid artery disease.MRI scans to measure the participants ’ white matter hyperintensity or volume, which reflect small vessel disease and are linked to later dementia, cognitive decline, and mortality.Cognition tests to evaluate the participants ’ attention and working memory, perceptual speed, memory, learning, letter fluency, semantic fluency, ...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: APOE e4 cardiovascular disease cognitive performance dementia neurocognitive disease PTSD small vessel disease white mater hyperintensity Source Type: research