Trauma exposure linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk

Trauma exposure linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk | Image Credit: © pikselstock - © pikselstock - stock.adobe.com.

There is a link between trauma exposure and Alzheimer's disease risk, according to a recent study presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society.¹

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease has increased alongside the median age of the population, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating the number of people living with this condition doubling every 5 years after the age of 65 years. Additionally, an estimated 14 million people will have Alzheimer’s disease by 2060.

Data has indicated 2 in 3 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are women, experiencing decreased memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills because of dying brain cells. This significantly impacts family members and has a high cost for management.

Alzheimer’s disease management is especially vital among women, as those experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) of menopause are at an increased risk of this condition.² VMS has been linked to memory performance, white matter hyperintensities, and brain function alterations. Additionally, a trial reported links between VMS and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Detections of associated blood-based biomarkers and measurements of brain age have improved because of advancements in technology.¹ This has allowed for research to include techniques such as advanced neuro-imaging based measurement of brain age and being able to identify differences between white and gray matter brain age.

Along with white matter changes being relevant to women’s brain health, Alzheimer’s disease risk assessment has advanced through identification of blood-based biomarkers. These biomarkers can be used for risk assessment decades before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Investigators conducted a study to evaluate if women exposed to trauma had an increased brain age based on gray matter and white matter brain age. Additional assessments included if increased trauma exposure was associated with adverse Alzheimer’s biomarker profiles and if race and ethnicity impacted these associations.

Stronger associations with markers of accelerated brain age were reported among participants exposed to greater trauma, especially for white matter brain age. An additional 3 years of white matter brain aging were measured among women exposed to trauma vs those without trauma exposure.

Additionally, an association was reported between increased exposure to trauma and adverse blood markers of neuroinflammation and neuronal death. This association was especially significant among Black women, and sexual trauma had the greatest adverse impacts on women’s brain health.

According to Rebecca Thurston, principal investigator and director of the Women’s Biobehavioral Health Program at the University of Pittsburgh, prior research identified a link between childhood trauma and decreased physical and neurocognitive health. However, data about the impact of adult trauma on women’s brain health remains lacking.

Thurston highlighted the recent findings and their implication that adult trauma, especially sexual trauma, significantly impact women’s brain health. Thurston recommended preventing trauma for increased support of women’s brain health as they age.

Additional study details were discussed at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society during the presentation, ““Trauma exposure, brain age, and plasma Alzheimer’s disease biomarker in women.”

“With the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease projected to nearly triple, and with two thirds of those being women, it’s imperative we understand the role trauma may play and discuss this with our patients,” said Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director for The Menopause Society. “That’s why studies like this one are so valuable.”

Reference

1. Trauma Exposure Accelerates Brain Aging Which Can Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease. The Menopause Society. September 10, 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://menopause.org/press-releases/trauma-exposure-accelerates-brain-aging-which-can-lead-to-alzheimers-disease
2. Krewson C. Nighttime vasomotor symptoms linked to Alzheimer's risk. Contemporary OB/GYN. March 19, 2024. Accessed September 11, 2024.