ANXIOUS, jealous, moody or distressed middle-aged women may be putting themselves at risk of developing Alzheimer's according to a 38-year long study.

The claim, in Neurology online, comes after scientists used personality and memory tests to track the health and welfare of 800 women, average age 46.

They found that 19 per cent of those women developed dementia in later life.

The tests also looked at neuroticism levels, which involves being easily distressed and can be linked to worrying, jealousy and moodiness, as well as whether they appeared to be shy and reserved or were outgoing characters.

Study author Lena Johannsson of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said: "Most Alzheimer's research has been devoted to factors such as education, heart and blood risk factors, head trauma, family history and genetics.

"Personality may ­influence the individual's risk for dementia through its effect on behaviour, lifestyle or reactions to stress."