Every three seconds, a person is diagnosed with dementia. According to the statistics of the International Alzheimer Society, about 55 million people live with this disease, and 10% of them will develop symptoms before the age of 65, in this case we are talking about early dementia. Risk factors for early neurodegenerative disorders include alcohol abuse, depression, and social isolation.

Dementia is a condition characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions such as memory, thinking, judgment and learning. It usually manifests itself in old age, but there are situations when symptoms appear before the age of 65. According to research, the most common form of early dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (55% of cases), followed by vascular dementia (11%), frontotemporal dementia (3%), dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease (3%), dementia with Levi. bodies (2%) and primary progressive aphasia (2%).

However, early-onset dementia is rare. A study in Norway found that it occurs in 163 people out of 100,000.

What is early-onset dementia and how does it differ from typical dementia

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is different from late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. People with typical Alzheimer’s disease show a combination of changes in thinking and memory caused by Alzheimer’s disease, as well as those changes that are part of the normal aging process. The areas of the brain that change the most during normal aging are the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are responsible for many different cognitive functions, including working memory—the ability to hold and manipulate information in memory—and understanding the problems a person faces.

This means that in terms of cognitive function, people with early dementia may have relatively distinct problems with episodic memory, that is, the ability to form new memories to recall recent events in their lives. In contrast, people with late-onset Alzheimer’s experience problems with both episodic memory and working memory and comprehension.

In addition, patients with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease show more decline in cognitive function and daily functioning than patients with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, at least in the early stages.

However, because their perception is also impaired, people with late-onset disease are not as aware of these difficulties. In contrast, people with early dementia tend to often feel depressed about their situation and anxious about the future. In addition, recent data indicate that their disease is more aggressive and progresses faster.

Another tragic aspect of early-onset Alzheimer’s is that it affects the whole family more than late-onset Alzheimer’s. Children, teenagers and young people can no longer rely on their parents. In addition to child care, household chores, and work, patients’ partners have additional responsibilities.

Factors that increase the risk of early development of dementia

A new study recently published in JAMA Neurology has identified 15 key risk factors that can increase the risk of developing dementia by age 65. The new study followed more than 350,000 people under the age of 65 from the UK Biobank, a biomedical database, to obtain information about the risks of early dementia. By analyzing a wide range of factors, including genetic influences and environmental factors, they were able to identify key factors that increase the risk of early-onset dementia.

“All of these factors increase the risk of dementia because they trigger the same fundamental mechanisms that threaten the brain. These mechanisms include inflammation and increased activity of harmful chemicals called free radicals. Most importantly, these factors affect the brain’s metabolism, meaning they affect how the brain can use glucose as an energy source. Dementia is the result of impaired brain metabolism,” explained Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and member of the American College of Nutrition.

Here are the lifestyle and health factors that contribute to the early onset of dementia:

• 1. Low level of education,
• 2. Low socio-economic status,
• 3. Two copies of the APOE4 gene,
• 4. Excessive alcohol consumption,
• 5. Social isolation,
• 6. Vitamin D deficiency,
• 7. Increased level of C-reactive protein,
• 8. Low fist grip strength,
• 9. Complete refusal of alcohol,
• 10. Hearing problems,
• 11. Diabetes,
• 12. Heart disease,
• 13. Depression,
• 14. Orthostatic hypotension,
• 15. Stroke.

Interestingly, lifestyle issues that threaten the brains of young people set the stage for dementia in older adults.

Experts note that risk factors have a certain degree of interdependence.

“For example, a person who excessively consumes alcohol is more likely to face malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, weakness, loss of muscle strength, as well as neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression. Such individuals are also at increased risk for metabolic disorders, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke,” said Dr. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, a behavioral neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Yale School of Medicine.

It is very likely that these foreigners also have higher levels of C-reactive protein due to a pro-inflammatory state. They could also isolate themselves due to underlying depression, which would lead to excessive drinking. These behavior patterns can lead to a number of chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.

Regarding non-modifiable risk factors, such as having two copies of the APOE4 gene, Dr. Fesharaki-Zadeh said that approximately 25% of the population carries at least one copy of the gene.

“Individuals with APOE have a clear risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. More precisely, if a person has only one copy of APOE4, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases threefold, and for those who have two copies of APOE4, this risk can increase up to 12 times,” said a neuroscientist from Yale University. .

What you can do to lower your risk of early Alzheimer’s disease

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40% of all cases of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be prevented or delayed by making lifestyle changes and avoiding chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Here are some things everyone can do to improve their memory and reduce their risk of dementia:

• Exercise classes,
• Acceptance of the Mediterranean style of eating,
• Avoid alcohol, marijuana and drugs,
• quality sleep
• Participation in public events,
• Practice new activities that stimulate the brain: listen to music, practice mindfulness, and maintain a positive attitude.

“Daily exercise can have far-reaching benefits, including improved neurocognitive function, through its well-established effects on neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons and new synapses), vasculogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and its well-known and established benefits for mood,” said Dr. Fesharaki-Zade.

The neurologist also recommends adopting a Mediterranean diet and learning techniques for cognitive stimulation, improving mood and promoting social interaction.

“Cognitive stimulation can involve participation in various courses, this means learning a foreign language throughout life, singing or dancing. Improving mood can involve regular practice of stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness and yoga, while social stimulation is essential for overall mental and cognitive health. Quality social connections should be encouraged and cultivated more and more,” added Dr. Fesharaki-Zadeh.

Dr. Perlmutter rounds out the list by keeping blood sugar under tight control, even in the absence of diabetes, and ensuring adequate, restful sleep.

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