About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Study Says Stressful Medical Tests may Reduce Memory

by Sheela Philomena on March 29, 2012 at 2:44 PM
 Study Says Stressful Medical Tests may Reduce Memory

Stressful medical tests may hamper memory in older adults, reveals study.

A recent study carried out by Sonia Lupien's team at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress (CSHS) of the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital, in affiliation with Universite de Montreal, showed that when faced with a stressful situation, memory, and especially among older adults, can be affected in a very rapid manner.

Advertisement

"We know that when a situation is new, unpredictable, uncontrollable or threatening to the ego, it leads to the production of stress hormones," explained Shireen Sindi, lead author of the study and PhD candidate at the CSHS.

These same hormones also have the capacity to reach the brain and to generate acute memory disorders, especially in older adults, "We have shown that when older adults are assessed under stressful conditions, they produce stress hormones that reduce their memory," continued Sindi.
Advertisement

Within the scope of this research project, the memory of older adults was tested in conditions similar to those in which their cognitive examinations in hospital or university settings usually take place: they had to go to an unfamiliar place that was not easily accessible and at times during the day that did not suit them.

The results of \Sindi's study show that such conditions induce a stress response and reduce the performance of older adults on memory tests.

Hence, it is possible that the conclusions of examinations carried out in a stressful context may resemble those reached in the presence of an underlying disorder, such as Alzheimer's.

In fact, the results obtained are only due to the stress generated by medical settings. An interesting fact is that when these same examinations take place in conditions with which older adults are familiar, their memory performance is no different from that of young adults.

On the basis of these results, the CSHS team questioned over 150 older people, asking them to describe the situations they find stressful when they have to go to various medical environments.

Source: ANI
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Senior Health News

Digestive Issues Can Make Elderly More Prone To Loneliness, Depression
Digestive illnesses among older adults result in increased levels of loneliness and depression, which in turn have a detrimental effect on overall health.
Eye-Tracking Technology Empowers Dementia Patients With a Voice
Using eye-tracking technology in dementia care facilities improves online assessments, allowing older individuals to self-report on care and quality of life.
What is the Best Temperature for Better Sleep Quality in Older Adults?
Older individual's ability to sleep well is strongly influenced by the ambient night-time temperature minimizing aging-related health risks.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Increases Risk of Nursing Home Care
In individuals aged over 60, lifestyle factors are highly correlated with the likelihood of prolonged nursing home admission, at least within Australia.
Phytosterol Supplements To Fight Hearing Loss
Phytosterol supplements can replenish lost cholesterol and help mitigate age-related hearing loss.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Study Says Stressful Medical Tests may Reduce Memory Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests