Stress and Alzheimer's Disease in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Stress is one of the main causes of various psychological and physiological changes. Those type of changes cause by excessive secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into the blood stream from adrenal gland in kidney. There is underline neuroendocrine pathways which carries signals from hypothalamus to pituitary gland than secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone which ultimately stimulates the Adrenal cortex and release the Epinephrine and nor Epinephrine. When the cortisol and adrenaline level increase in blood stream. That causes the physiological changes like elevated level of blood pressure, glucose level, dilation of pupil and immunological response, as soon as, the threat is subsides this level down towards the normal. It is also a leading cause of hospitalization, especially in the elderly population. Elderly people who have comorbidities like Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disorders are more prone to wards minor stressors, it worsens their disease. It is essential to overcome the stress in elderly through various methods e.g., music therapy, social support.