Severe mental illness linked to higher dementia risk even at young age, and greater stroke risk earlier in life
People living with severe mental illness face a substantially higher risk of dementia throughout adulthood, as well as a significantly elevated risk of stroke in early and middle adulthood, according to a large new study based on health records from Catalonia, Spain. The findings, published in European Neuropsychopharmacology, suggest that physical health risks linked to severe psychiatric…
A new study has found that people with severe mental illness face a much higher risk of dementia and stroke, even at a young age. Researchers analyzed health records from nearly 700,000 people in Catalonia, Spain, and discovered significant links between severe mental illness and cognitive decline and cardiovascular issues. Adults ages 30-39 with severe mental illness had 20 times higher odds of developing dementia compared to those without a psychiatric diagnosis.
The risk of ischemic stroke was nearly three times higher for adults ages 40-49 with severe mental illness. This research emphasizes the need for mental health care to be integrated with overall health care to address risks earlier in life.
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