Overview

• Participants with chronic or new anxiety had 2.8 to 3.2 times higher dementia risk.
• Study followed over 2,000 individuals with an average age of 76 for 10 years.
• Resolved anxiety showed no increased risk of dementia compared to those without anxiety.
• Higher dementia risks were particularly noted in individuals with anxiety before age 70.
• Timely anxiety management may be a viable strategy to reduce dementia risk.