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Recent research led by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University has unveiled groundbreaking insights into young-onset dementia risk factors, challenging the notion that genetics solely determine the condition. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, highlighted 15 risk factors akin to those linked with late-onset dementia, indicating the potential for minimizing young-onset dementia risk by addressing health and lifestyle factors.
The comprehensive study, encompassing over 350,000 participants under 65 from the UK Biobank study, explored a wide spectrum of risk influencers, including genetic predisposition, socioeconomic status, and various lifestyle factors like alcohol use disorder, social isolation, and health-related concerns such as vitamin D deficiency, depression, stroke, hearing impairment, and heart disease.
Professor David Llewellyn, University of Exeter, underscored the significance of these findings, hailing the study as a breakthrough in understanding dementia and suggesting a potential path toward targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Dr. Stevie Hendriks from Maastricht University highlighted the serious impact of young-onset dementia on individuals juggling work and family life, emphasizing the need for extensive investigation into other contributing risk factors beyond assumed genetics.
Professor Sebastian Kohler of Maastricht University expressed surprise at the role of modifiable risk factors, spanning physical and mental health, in young-onset dementia. This revelation offers potential avenues for risk reduction in this demographic.
The study, funded by several research bodies including Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer Nederland, signals a transformative shift in perceiving dementia risk factors. Dr. Janice Ranson from the University of Exeter emphasized the potential for interventions to curtail new cases of young-onset dementia, marking a significant stride in the field.
Dr. Leah Mursaleen, Alzheimer’s Research UK, hailed the study as transformative in understanding dementia risks, offering hope for both individual and societal-level interventions.
This pioneering study marks a vital step in understanding the multifaceted nature of young-onset dementia risk factors, setting the stage for further research and potential interventions.
The comprehensive study, ‘Risk factors for young-onset dementia in the UK Biobank: A prospective population-based study,’ is now available in JAMA Neurology.
