La muerte de la pareja y el estrés económico se asocian con el alzhéimer y con diferencias en la estructura cerebral
LossStressful vital events can have a negative impact on brain health. Specifically, The duel for the loss of the couple It is related to alterations in biological processes linked to Alzheimer’s, while Larry and economic losses Structural conferences are associated in the brain. These are the main conclusions of a study as a result of a collaboration between the Global Health Institute of Barcelona (ISGLOBAL), center imported by the «La Caixa» Foundation, and Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Research Center of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation. The results, which highlight differences in the brain response to stressful events according to gender and educational level, have beenPublished in the magazineNeurology.
The study, led by Eider Arenaza-UrquijoIsglobal researcher, was attended by1,200 peopleof the alpha cohort (Alzheimer and families), of the BBRC, promoted by the «La Caixa» Foundation. These are people without cognitive deterioration, most of whom have a Alzheimer’s historic. «Medianito Magnetic Resonance We study the differences in the volume of brain gray matter, in addition to analyzing Alzheimer’s biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid, such as beta amyloid protein,» explains explains.Eleni PalpatzisPredoctoral researcher of Isglobal and first author of the study.
The impact of duel and economy on the brain
In Alzheimer’s cooling, changes in the brain – as the alteration in protein dating levels – can occur years before the first symptoms appear. For example, aMinor proportion of beta amyloid 42/40An indicator that compares the concentrations of two forms of the protein. Being the beta amyloid 42 the most prone to a aging in the brain, a decrease in this relationship in the cerebrospinal fluid usually reflects a mayor deposition of beta amyloid in the cerebal tissue and, therefore, it usually considers An early indicator of Alzheimer’s. I also knowThey find higher levels of phosphorylated tauthat produces neuronal damage, andneurographinethat aumm when connection of neurons is.
The death of the sentimental couple is associated withChanges in these biomarkers; A lower proportion of beta amyloid 42/40, effect that was more pronouncedIn menAnd higher levels of phosphorylated tau and neurographine, effects that were more pronouncedIn women. All these alterations were more accentuatedIn person with lower educational level.
By ootro side,Larry and economic losses were related to a reduction in the volume of gray matterIn regional cerebrals key to emotional and cognitive regulation. These effects also showed differences according to gender: in the case of mild, it affected more to the brain of men; While economic losses had an mayor of impact structural impact on women’s brain.
The role of inequality in Alzheimer’s
A previous study of the same previous group already showed that exposure to vital avoidance in medium age can aumine Alzheimer’s cooling vulnerability. However, the prevalence and impact of stressful vital events varies depending on some social determinants, such as gender and education;The women and people with the lowest educational level suffer more stressful vital eventsAnd it is also in these groups where Alzheimer’s prevalence is higher. The research showed that different stressful sites affect men and women differently.
“Men seem more negative affected by the loss of the couple (affecting a protein proteins. Men usually have less close relationshipswhich makes the loss of a more insulating sea couple, and Because the mood can lead to a social stigma mayor For men, «he explainsEider Arenaza-UrquijoResearcher of Isglobal and senior author of the study.
“On the other hand, women seem more vulnerable to financial difficulties (affecting the volume of gray matter). This could be relaxed with which historically Women have had less financial security and with the fact that they They usually report higher levels of economic worrywhat has a negativamament impact on her general mental well -being, ”adds the researcher.
Reference
Palpatzis E, Akinci M, Garcia-Prat M, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Quijano-Rubio C, Kollmorgen G, Wild N, Gispert JD, Suárez-Calvet M, Grau-Rivera O, Fauria K, Brugulat-Serrat A, Sanchhez-Benavides G, Arenaza-Arena-Up; Alfa study. Duel and economic stressors by sex, gender and education: associations with results related to Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology. 2025 April 22; 104 (8): E213377.DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213377
