Medical News Today (MNT)People Under 65 May Lower Dementia Risk with Improved Diet, Lifestyle, Other Factors

Identifying New Risk Factors in Young-Onset Dementia: A Crossroad of Genetics, Lifestyle, and Mental Health

Recent collaborative research by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University sheds new light on young-onset dementia, underscoring the importance of various modifiable risk factors. This study, leveraging data from the UK Biobank, reveals a nuanced understanding of the disease, extending beyond genetic predispositions to include lifestyle and mental health aspects. The findings, published in JAMA Neurology, emphasize the potential for targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of developing young-onset dementia.

Key Points:

1. Young-onset dementia, occurring in individuals under 65, has been studied to identify contributing risk factors, combining efforts from English and Dutch researchers.
2. The study utilized data from nearly 356,000 UK Biobank participants, who were under 65 and dementia-free at the start.
3. Out of 39 potential risk factors analyzed, 15 were identified as significantly increasing the risk of young-onset dementia.
4. New risk factors highlighted include lower education levels, alcohol use disorder, social isolation, vitamin D deficiency, elevated C-reactive protein levels, depression, stroke, and diabetes.
5. The study emphasizes the importance of mental and physical health maintenance, especially in mid-life, to potentially reduce the risk of dementia.
6. Dr. David Merrill, discussing the study, noted the indirect and direct effects of depression on brain structure and function, highlighting the importance of addressing depression in dementia prevention.
7. Dr. Allison B. Reiss, stressing the study’s implications, pointed to the control we have over environmental factors that can contribute to dementia, emphasizing preventative measures in younger years.

“There are many things that can contribute to dementia that are in our environment and they are now more and more recognized. The brain needs a very stable environment to function well and that includes many factors that are within our control or can be treated very well if the person receives good healthcare. The finding that genetics are not destiny is a hopeful one and indicates that we can take action to keep our brains at peak function starting in the younger years.“
– Dr. Allison B. Reiss, Associate Professor of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine

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