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From Anxiety, Depression to Major Neurocognitive Disorders: Exploring Their Association With the Risk Factors for Dementia
Ali A Sulais, Nada Al Zamil. Cureus, 2026-01-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Dementia presents an escalating public health challenge worldwide. While traditional risk factors such as metabolic syndromes and lifestyle choices have been widely examined, growing evidence highlights the role of mental health conditions in the development of dementia. Our manuscript is a narrative review of peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the association between common psychiatric disorders, namely depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and the onset of neurocognitive decline. Additional factors such as chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and exposure to traumatic life events are also considered. Proposed mechanisms include endocrine dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and altered immune responses. The review further explores how psychopharmacological interventions may influence cognitive outcomes later in life. These insights aim to enhance clinicians' ability to identify at-risk populations and inform preventive strategies.
Key findings
- Our manuscript is a narrative review of peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the association between common psychiatric disorders, namely depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and the onset of neurocognitive decline.
- Additional factors such as chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and exposure to traumatic life events are also considered.
- Proposed mechanisms include endocrine dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and altered immune responses.
- The review further explores how psychopharmacological interventions may influence cognitive outcomes later in life.
- These insights aim to enhance clinicians' ability to identify at-risk populations and inform preventive strategies.
Why it matters
This narrative review examines associations between psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and PTSD and later neurocognitive decline, and discusses possible mechanisms and psychopharmacological effects. It summarizes existing evidence and does not report a new treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 52 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 54 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cureus) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Cureus: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Nada Al Zamil holds only 1 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | McGill University: institution h-index 1,373 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41728498) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 52 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 52 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 54 out of 100. |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sulais, A. A., & Zamil, N. A. (2026). From Anxiety, Depression to Major Neurocognitive Disorders: Exploring Their Association With the Risk Factors for Dementia. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101994
Vancouver
Sulais AA, Zamil NA. From Anxiety, Depression to Major Neurocognitive Disorders: Exploring Their Association With the Risk Factors for Dementia. Cureus. 2026. doi:10.7759/cureus.101994. PMID: 41728498.
BibTeX
@article{sulais2026-41728498,
author = {Sulais, Ali A and Zamil, Nada Al},
title = {{From Anxiety, Depression to Major Neurocognitive Disorders: Exploring Their Association With the Risk Factors for Dementia}},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.7759/cureus.101994},
pmid = {41728498},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101994}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.