How to reduce risk of young dementia and dementia

Lifestyle plays bigger role than thought

By 2025, 4,464 Flemings are expected to have young dementia. "We pay a lot of attention to the elderly and too little to people under 65," says neuroscientist Sebastian Köhler. He identified 15 risk factors for young dementia, some of which are completely under your control. "You don't get the disease just because of genetic factors," he says.

What is juvenile dementia?

Juvenile dementia is dementia that occurs before you reach the age of 65. An ageing population in Western Europe sometimes even pushes the age limit to 70. "The first symptoms are often so subtle that it is difficult to recognise the disease early," explains neuroscientist Sebastian Köhler (Maastricht University). According to the Dementia Expertise Centre Flanders, there were already 4,315 people with the disease in 2020, and that number is expected to rise to 4,464 in 2025. However, only about 1,800 people will receive an official diagnosis.

Comprehensive study tracks more than 350,000 people

Köhler conducted his study in Britain, where he led a team that analysed data from 356,052 Britons aged between 30 and 64. At the start of the study, the participants showed no signs of dementia. They were followed for several years to see who developed the disease. "This was the largest study to date on the subject," says Köhler. "Until recently, we had little insight into the causes of juvenile dementia other than genetic factors. We know a lot about dementia in later life, but too little about young dementia."

Risk factors for young dementia and dementia

The team collected extensive information about the participants' lifestyles. "We knew what they ate, how much they moved, what their BMI was, whether they had cardiovascular disease or diabetes, whether they had high blood pressure, and so on. We also analysed their genetic profiles," Köhler says. From this data, the team identified some factors that correlated significantly with an increased risk of childhood dementia:

two copies of the APOE4 gene
alcohol abuse
few social contacts
vitamin D deficiency
high levels of inflammation
a weak handshake
hearing loss
diabetes
heart disease
depression
low blood pressure when getting up
heart attack

Important message for young people

"It is known that genetics plays a big role, including in young dementia," says Köhler. "But what we did not expect is that lifestyle and health problems we often associate with older age, such as diabetes, heart disease and even social isolation, also strongly affect younger people."

Importance of early intervention

These insights point to the importance of early intervention and healthy living not only for older people, but also for younger people. "This confirms that healthy living and attention to brain health from an early age are crucial. The earlier you intervene, the better," Köhler concludes.