Loneliness, vitamin D deficiency, low socioeconomic status, and alcohol abuse disorder are among several health and lifestyle factors associated with an increased risk of early- or young-onset dementia, according to a groundbreaking study.
Dementia affects an expanding global population, and researchers, for the first time, have pinpointed 15 key risk factors contributing to a higher likelihood of developing young-onset dementia. The findings, published in JAMA Neurology, challenge previous notions about the causes of the condition and pave the way for innovative prevention strategies, as stated by the study authors.
Understanding Early Dementia Risks
The University of Exeter and Maastricht University conducted a comprehensive study, following over 350,000 participants under 65 in the UK Biobank. This large biomedical database aimed to uncover the risks associated with early dementia.
“This is the biggest, most robust and wide-ranging study of its kind,” says David Llewellyn, Ph.D., study co-author and professor of clinical epidemiology and digital health at the University of Exeter. “The most important finding was that a wide range of modifiable risk factors appear to be important, not just genetics,” he adds.
Defining Young-Onset Dementia
Dementia refers to impairments in memory, thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making that interfere with daily life. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, affecting over 6 million people in the U.S., young-onset dementia manifests before the age of 65, accounting for about 5% of cases, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Key Risk Factors
The study explored the association between 39 potential risk factors and young-onset dementia among 356,052 participants. Fifteen factors significantly raised the risk, including social isolation, lower formal education, vitamin D deficiency, hearing impairment, and alcohol use disorder.
Novel Risk Factors
The study unveiled previously unstudied risk factors like social isolation, orthostatic hypotension, vitamin D deficiency, and high C-reactive protein levels. Notably, participants with infrequent social interactions had a higher association with young-onset dementia, highlighting a link between isolation and cognitive reserve.
Vitamin D, crucial for bone health and immune function, emerged as a potential protective factor against young-onset dementia. High C-reactive protein levels, indicating inflammation, and orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure, were identified as new risk factors.
Addressing the complexity of certain risk factors, the study noted the contrasting impact of alcohol use. While alcohol use disorder raised the risk, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a lower incidence compared to abstinence.
The study emphasizes that many risk factors for young-onset dementia are controllable. Adopting lifestyle changes, such as staying physically, mentally, and socially active, along with managing health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression, may contribute to lowering the risk of dementia.