ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Most of the time, dementia affects people who are 65 years and older. But young-onset dementia can happen to those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Now, a new study identifies factors that can up your risk for developing this devastating disease.
Young-onset dementia, also called early-onset dementia, affects more than 300 thousand Americans. And it strikes during the prime of their lives.
Eric McDade, DO, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Neurology at Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine says, “Typically, people develop symptoms in their 30s 40s and 50s as opposed to developing symptoms in their 70s and 80s.”
In a new study published in JAMA Neurology, researchers identified risk factors that are linked to young-onset dementia: heart disease, a previous stroke, or an alcohol use disorder were strong predictors of young-onset dementia. Carrying specific gene mutations was also a major risk factor.
Doctor McDade says, “It’s an incredibly tragic disease. Families pass this disease on from generation to generation.”
Being socially isolated was another key risk factor for dementia. So was not getting enough vitamin D. And for men, having diabetes was strongly associated with developing the disease. Some other possible culprits were having a less formal education, a lower socioeconomic status, depression, poor handgrip strength, and hearing impairment. Doctors hope identifying these warning signs earlier may allow them to treat the disease before it has gone too far.
“We think it would be a lot easier to stop the disease from progressing rather than trying to catch up and prevent all of these sorts of downstream effects that happen.” says Doctor McDade.
Helping you identify risk factors for young-onset dementia.
Two other possible risk factors that were mentioned in the study were having a high c-reactive protein marker, which is a sign of inflammation, and having orthostatic hypotension, which is an abnormal drop in blood pressure when you stand up. If you have questions, call the free Alzheimer’s helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
Sources:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2813439
RED FLAGS OF YOUNG-ONSET
DEMENTIA
REPORT #3177
BACKGROUND: Young-onset Alzheimer’s disease is an uncommon form of dementia that affects people younger than age 65. The condition also is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. About 110 of every 100,000 adults between ages 30 and 64 have young-onset Alzheimer’s. Young-onset Alzheimer’s is caused by a specific error in a gene, called a genetic mutation. Genetic mutations can be passed from parent to child. Three different genes may have a mutation that causes young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. These genes are APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2. A person who inherits at least one copy of a mutated gene will likely develop Alzheimer’s disease before age 65 and about 11% of people with young-onset Alzheimer’s carry a genetic mutation that causes disease, but among all people with Alzheimer’s disease, fewer than 1% carry one of these causal genes.
DIAGNOSIS: There is a wider range of possible causes of dementia in younger people, and so a more comprehensive assessment may be necessary. In some areas there are specialist services for diagnosing younger people with dementia. They can help to make sure the person gets the information and support they need as a younger person. However, these services are only available in some areas. If a specialist service isn’t available, people are often referred to services for older people. There should still be a named lead in young-onset dementia who should be able to offer appropriate information and support. However, not all services have this. Sometimes people are referred to more than one specialist if their symptoms are complex. The assessment process often includes taking a full history of the person’s symptoms, any changes they’ve experienced and the impact of these on day-to-day activities, tests of a person’s mental abilities and a full physical exam.
(Source: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/diagnosing-young-onset-dementia)
NEW TREATMENT: In a new study published in JAMA Neurology, researchers identified risk factors that are linked to young-onset dementia. Some of these factors include, being diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) it has been associated with damage to several parts of the brain, including the frontal lobes, which leads to trouble with executive function and working memory. When combined with poor nutrition, it also harms small regions connected to the hippocampus that are critical for forming new memories. Being socially isolated is a major risk factor for dementia. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, it may be because our brains evolved, in large part, for social interactions. Individuals with fewer social contacts have fewer social interactions, and simply don’t use their brains enough to keep them healthy. Not getting enough vitamin D can lead to more viral infections. Several studies suggest that certain viral infections increase your risk of dementia. Having diabetes if you’re a man can lead to dementia.
(Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2813439 , https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-fresh-look-at-risks-for-developing-young-onset-dementia-202401173008)
* For More Information, Contact:
Eric McDade, DO
Washington University of St. Louis School of Medicine
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