Liens entre la pathologie névrotico-anxieuse et la survenue d'une démence ultérieure

Despite its interest, the relationship between neurotic and anxiety disorders and the development of dementia later in life has been scarcely addressed in the scientific literature. The problem can be viewed from two perspectives: the presence of personality neurotic traits or anxiety disorders, previous to the development of dementia, or the influence of anxiety in the conversion from mild cognitive disorders to dementia. We present a critical review of the data published in recent years. The majority support anxiety - alone or with other psychiatric symptoms - in adult life as a risk factor for the later onset of dementia. In addition, the presence of anxiety in people with mild cognitive impairment can play a precipitant role in the conversion to dementia in the following years.