New research has found that women who display neurotic behaviour may be more at risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, carried out by Swedish scientists, found that women who showed themselves to be anxious, jealous and moody in middle-age were twice as likely to develop the condition.

The research, carried out on 800 middle-aged women over a span of four decades, found that those who scored highest on tests for neuroticism in middle-age were especially prone to the disease, in direct contrast to their calmer counterparts.

Other factors that were taken into consideration during the test were the women’s levels of stress, and whether they were more of an extroverted or introverted person.

Speaking after the publication of the research report in health journal Neurology this week, its author, researcher Lena Johansson, said: “No other study has shown that [a type of] midlife personality increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease over a period of nearly 40 years.”

She added that, with previous research indicating that the number of dementia sufferers is due to rise dramatically in the coming years, it is now even more important to be vigilant for its warning signs.