Stressful Events Linked to Alzheimer’s Biomarkers

Grief and financial strain show connections to brain health, with disparities across gender and education.

New research indicates that challenging life experiences, such as bereavement or job loss, can have adverse effects on brain health, potentially impacting processes related to Alzheimer’s disease. The study highlights how these events can manifest differently in the brain based on gender and education levels.

Brain Changes Linked to Grief and Financial Hardship

The study, spearheaded by Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, a researcher at ISGlobal, involved a cohort of 1,200 participants from the ALFA project at the BBRC. These individuals did not have cognitive impairment, but most had a family history of Alzheimer’s. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine variations in grey matter volume, also analyzing Alzheimer’s biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid, including beta-amyloid protein, according to Eleni Palpatzis, pre-doctoral researcher at ISGlobal.

In individuals experiencing the loss of a partner, researchers noted changes in key Alzheimer’s biomarkers. Specifically, they observed a lower amyloid beta 42/40 ratio, an effect more pronounced in men, along with increased levels of phosphorylated tau and neurogranin, effects that were more evident in women. Those with less education also showed more pronounced effects.

Economic Stressors and Brain Structure

Conversely, unemployment and financial losses correlated with reduced grey matter volume in critical brain areas responsible for emotional and cognitive regulation. Men appeared to be more affected by unemployment, while financial losses had a greater structural impact on women’s brains.

Interestingly, the Alzheimer’s Association reports that women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men, in part because they live longer, but also because of biological and genetic differences (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024).

Inequality’s Role in Alzheimer’s Vulnerability

Earlier research by the same team demonstrated that exposure to stressful events in middle age could heighten susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease. The prevalence and impact of these events are influenced by social factors such as gender and education, with women and those with lower educational attainment facing more stressful experiences.

Men seem to be more negatively affected by the loss of a partner…and unemployment…This may be because men tend to have fewer close relationships…and because unemployment carries a greater social stigma for men, explained Eider Arenaza-Urquijo.

On the other hand, women seem more vulnerable to financial difficulties…This could be related to the fact that women have historically had less financial security, and that they tend to report higher levels of economic concern, which negatively impacts their overall mental well-being, added Arenaza-Urquijo.

These findings underscore the importance of addressing social determinants of health to mitigate the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among vulnerable populations.