Work

Anxiety Symptoms and Risk of Dementia Progression in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Year: 2026

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is among the earliest and most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in cognitive impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that anxiety may elevate the risk of cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to quantitatively synthesize evidence from cohort studies on the association between anxiety symptoms and dementia conversion in MCI. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in Medline and other relevant databases to find cohort studies examining the association between anxiety symptoms and dementia progression in MCI. RESULTS: Fifteen cohort studies were included in the systematic review, of which fourteen were included in meta-analyses. Anxiety was significantly associated with an increased risk of all cause dementia, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.41; p < 0.001, and Alzheimer's disease, HR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.16-1.49; p < 0.001, while pooled odds ratios did not show a significant association odds ratio = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.84-1.57; p = 0.39. CONCLUSION: Anxiety symptoms may be associated with an elevated risk of dementia conversion in MCI. Further large-scale prospective cohort studies are needed to determine the strength and clinical importance of these findings.

Source: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

DOI: 10.1159/dem/aciag007

Authors: David Fresnais, Brynjar Fure

Institutions: Örebro University, Karlstad Central Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Örebro Universitet, Region Värmland