In Case You Haven't Heard…

Obsessively worrying about the future or fixating on your problems could have serious ramifications for your future health, according to a new study from University College London, Insider reported June 8. The study, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia , involving brain scans and behavior monitoring on 360 people, found a link between negative thinking and cognitive decline, as well as increased amounts of two proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. “A better understanding of risks for dementia is vital for improved therapeutic interventions,” study author Natalie Marchant, a psychiatrist and senior research fellow in the Department of Mental Health at University College London, told Insider. For two years, 360 participants, all over the age of 55, with a relative who had past or current dementia, were monitored for negative thinking behaviors. The majority of them were white, and 73% were female. Just over a third (113) of the participants underwent PET brain scans, which revealed deposits of tau and beta amyloid proteins, warning signs doctors look for to detect Alzheimer's in its early stages. “The findings from this study lend further support for the importance of mental health to be considered in screening for dementia,” Marchant said.