PTSD is linked to poorer heart and brain health in mid-life, especially for those with a genetic risk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-11-03 02:00

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with poorer heart and brain health at mid-life, according to international researchers who say this association is worse for those with a high genetic risk of Alzheimer's. The researchers examined the brains and carotid arteries of 274 women, comparing their level of PTSD symptoms against indicators of disease and degeneration in the brain and carotid. The researchers say those with higher PTSD symptoms were more likely to show signs of carotid atherosclerosis. 64 of the participants also had the APOEε4 gene - a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease - and the researchers say PTSD symptoms were associated with signs of poor brain health and lower cognition within this group.

Media release

From: JAMA

About The Study: In this study of 274 midlife women, greater posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were associated with higher carotid atherosclerosis and, among women who were APOEɛ4 carriers, greater brain small vessel disease and poorer cognitive performance. These findings point to the adverse implications of PTSD symptoms for cardiovascular and neurocognitive health among women in midlife, particularly for women who are APOEɛ4 carriers.

Authors: Rebecca C. Thurston, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, is the corresponding author.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Pittsburgh, USA

Funder: This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (grant No. RF1AG053504 and R01AG053504; Drs Thurston and Maki) and the NIH Heart Lung and Blood Institute (grant No. R01HL105647 and K24HL123565; Dr Thurston). This work was also supported by the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NIH grant No. UL1TR000005) and the University of Pittsburgh Small Molecule Biomarker Core (NIH grant No. S10RR023461).

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