A total of 15 risk factors have a significant influence on the risk of developing early dementia. These include, for example, alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency and various diseases such as diabetes. Fortunately, many of these risk factors can be influenced.
A prospective cohort study involving experts from the University of Oxford analyzed 39 potential risk factors associated with the onset of dementia at a young age. The results are published in the English-language journal “JAMA Neurology”.
Data from the UK Biobank study evaluated
The team used data from the so-called UK Biobank study to identify participants for the new research who were younger than 65 and had not received a diagnosis of dementia during an initial examination.
In total, the researchers were able to identify 39 potential risk factors, which they divided into sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, genetic factors, environmental factors, blood marker factors, cardiometabolic factors, psychiatric factors and other factors.
To examine how these risk factors are related to the incidence of dementia at younger ages, the team used what is known as multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. All of the factors were tested first within the domains and then across domains.
Ultimately, 356,052 people were included in the new research, 197,036 of whom were women. During the follow-up period, 485 of the participants developed dementia at a young age, the experts report.
Significantly increased risk of dementia
According to the researchers, the final model showed that 15 of the risk factors examined were significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia at a young age.
These risk factors for dementia at a young age included, for example, lower socioeconomic status, alcohol use disorders, social isolation, vitamin D deficiency, lower handgrip strength, hearing impairment, orthostatic hypotension, diabetes, heart disease and depression.
In addition, increased levels of C-reactive protein and a genetic constellation in which people carry two so-called apolipoprotein ε4 alleles also play a role, the experts add. Many of the risk factors for early-onset dementia can be influenced by lifestyle, which also applies to dementia in general.
Last year there was a study with a total of 172 participants between the ages of 70 and 89 who had an increased risk of dementia and suffered from at least two of eight selected risk factors for dementia, including lack of exercise, smoking, sleep disorders and social isolation.
About half of the participants received individual coaching to improve risk factors for dementia, which included lifestyle adjustments in various areas.
According to the team, after a period of two years, participants who took part in personal coaching showed a significant improvement in overall cognitive score of 74 percent compared to the control group.
Improved quality of life, lower risk of dementia
In addition, the general quality of life also improved and the risk of dementia decreased significantly, according to the researchers. An intervention with the help of personal coaching therefore seems to be a way to prevent dementia.
Lifestyle significantly influences the risk of dementia
In summary, there are various influenceable factors that play a role in the development of dementia that should not be underestimated, and some of them increase the risk of developing the disease even at a young age.
However, many of the risk factors mentioned in the two studies can be influenced by a healthy lifestyle, for example by exercising more or eating a healthy diet. And appropriate lifestyle adjustments could not only protect against early dementia, but also significantly reduce the general risk of dementia. (as)
