An “innovative” study that marks the beginning of a “new era” in dementia prevention. British researchers published a study this Tuesday, December 26, in the journal Jama Neurology that identifies 15 medical and social factors that increase the risk of developing early dementia.
The scientists worked for the first time from a database of 350,000 people under 65 years of age. Until then, lifestyle changes had been advocated to prevent cognitive decline in older adults, such as eating healthily or exercising regularly.
“Our study identified 15 lifestyle and health factors that were associated with the incidence of early-onset dementia,” the researchers said in revealing the results.
The importance of mental health
Among these factors, some are sociodemographic: lower educational level or socioeconomic status. Others are related to habits or mental health such as the absence of alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorders, social isolation and depression.
Medical factors may also increase the risks of early dementia: vitamin D deficiencies, low grip strength, hearing loss, orthostatic hypotension, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, low levels of C-reactive protein, and carriers of the E4 allele of the apolipoprotein 2.
According to Janice Ranson, lead researcher at the University of Exeter, this study “breaks new ground by identifying that the risk of early dementia can be reduced.” “We believe this could be the beginning of a new era in interventions to reduce new cases of this disease,” she told the guardian.
The researchers announced that “further exploration of these risk factors was necessary to identify possible underlying mechanisms,” while also being pleased to have identified these 15 factors that can be “easily integrated into current dementia prevention initiatives.”
Source: BFM TV
