The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence

Cognitive decline and dementia are major public health challenges globally, with stress and inflammation emerging as significant contributors. Understanding the interplay between stress-related factors, inflammatory markers, and cognitive decline is crucial for identifying potential preventive strat...

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Main Authors: Dharmendra Kumar Gupta, Arunima Chaudhuri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Muller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_81_24
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author Dharmendra Kumar Gupta
Arunima Chaudhuri
author_facet Dharmendra Kumar Gupta
Arunima Chaudhuri
author_sort Dharmendra Kumar Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Cognitive decline and dementia are major public health challenges globally, with stress and inflammation emerging as significant contributors. Understanding the interplay between stress-related factors, inflammatory markers, and cognitive decline is crucial for identifying potential preventive strategies and interventions. This systematic review explored 17 studies examining the role of stress and inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., interleukin [IL]-6 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) in cognitive decline and dementia. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a thematic approach was used to analyze the findings, focusing on stress, inflammation, and their combined impact on cognitive health. Key themes identified include (1) stress as a risk factor for cognitive decline, with midlife and posttraumatic stress influencing long-term cognitive trajectories, (2) inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α being significantly associated with accelerated cognitive decline and dementia risk, (3) lifestyle and environmental factors, including air pollution, smoking, and social determinants, exacerbating stress and inflammation, and (4) sleep quality, perceived stigma, and social networks as potential modifiers of stress-induced inflammation and cognitive impairment. The findings highlight the multifaceted interactions between stress and inflammation in cognitive decline, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions addressing stress management, lifestyle modifications, and inflammatory pathways to mitigate dementia risk. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships and develop effective prevention strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-5d4558209c3d494eba0b6cac2d28e0d52025-08-20T03:17:14ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMuller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research0975-97272321-37012025-01-01161536010.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_81_24The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidenceDharmendra Kumar GuptaArunima ChaudhuriCognitive decline and dementia are major public health challenges globally, with stress and inflammation emerging as significant contributors. Understanding the interplay between stress-related factors, inflammatory markers, and cognitive decline is crucial for identifying potential preventive strategies and interventions. This systematic review explored 17 studies examining the role of stress and inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., interleukin [IL]-6 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) in cognitive decline and dementia. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a thematic approach was used to analyze the findings, focusing on stress, inflammation, and their combined impact on cognitive health. Key themes identified include (1) stress as a risk factor for cognitive decline, with midlife and posttraumatic stress influencing long-term cognitive trajectories, (2) inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α being significantly associated with accelerated cognitive decline and dementia risk, (3) lifestyle and environmental factors, including air pollution, smoking, and social determinants, exacerbating stress and inflammation, and (4) sleep quality, perceived stigma, and social networks as potential modifiers of stress-induced inflammation and cognitive impairment. The findings highlight the multifaceted interactions between stress and inflammation in cognitive decline, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions addressing stress management, lifestyle modifications, and inflammatory pathways to mitigate dementia risk. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships and develop effective prevention strategies.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_81_24cognitive declinedementiainflammatory biomarkersperceived stressposttraumatic stressstress
spellingShingle Dharmendra Kumar Gupta
Arunima Chaudhuri
The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
Muller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research
cognitive decline
dementia
inflammatory biomarkers
perceived stress
posttraumatic stress
stress
title The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
title_full The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
title_fullStr The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
title_full_unstemmed The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
title_short The role of stress, inflammatory markers, and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review of recent evidence
title_sort role of stress inflammatory markers and environmental determinants in cognitive decline and dementia a systematic review of recent evidence
topic cognitive decline
dementia
inflammatory biomarkers
perceived stress
posttraumatic stress
stress
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_81_24
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