Age, family history, race and ethnicity can all impact a person’s risk of having dementia.
But lifestyle factors - including alcohol consumption and mental health - also play their part.
New research published in JAMA Neurology identified 15 key risk factors that could increase a person’s chances of developing the condition early, which means developing dementia symptoms before the age of 65.
But the research also suggested that being aware of many of these key factors can lower your risk
Doctors suggest that people can reduce their risk of dementia by making lifestyle changes
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Risk Factors Identified for Young-Onset Dementia
- Lower formal education
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Two copies of the APOE4 gene
- Alcohol use disorder
- Social isolation
- Vitamin D deficiency
- High C-reactive protein levels
- Lower handgrip strength
- No alcohol use (In a study published in the BMJ, it was reported that the risk of dementia was increased in people who abstained from alcohol in midlife or consumed >14 units/week.)
- Hearing impairment
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Stroke
Board-certified neurologist, best-selling author, and a fellow of the American College of Nutrition David Perlmutter told Health: “All of these factors increase dementia risk as they all lead to the same fundamental mechanisms that ultimately threaten the brain.
“These mechanisms include inflammation [and] increased activity of damaging chemicals called free radicals.”
Some of these risk factors are manageable, such as social isolation and alcohol use disorder, although others, such as a lower formal education, a lower socioeconomic status and having two copies of the APOE4 gene, are unavoidable.
Behavioural neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, and assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at Yale School of Medicine, Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD said addressing the risk factors can substantially lower their risk.
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Alcohol use disorder is a risk factor for young-onset dementia
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Both experts recommended engaging in physical exercise to reduce the risk of developing dementia.
This has “far-reaching benefits” including enhancing neurocognitive function and mood benefits, among others.
A Mediterranean diet, which is primarily plant-based but with the addition of fish and poultry and a limited amount of dairy, is also recommended.
The experts also urged people to learn cognitive, mood, and social stimulation techniques.
Cognitive stimulation might involve educational training or learning new languages, while mood stimulation could be in the form of mindfulness or yoga.