{"id":286219,"date":"2025-11-15T13:14:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T13:14:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/286219\/"},"modified":"2025-11-15T13:14:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T13:14:55","slug":"you-may-be-more-at-risk-for-early-onset-dementia-than-you-think-new-science-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/286219\/","title":{"rendered":"You May Be More at Risk for Early Onset Dementia Than You Think\u2014New Science You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dementia<\/a> is often thought of as a distant possibility or something that only affects those in the last years of their life. But new research is challenging this: the risk of developing dementia<\/a> earlier in life may be higher than previously thought.<\/p>\n

According to a study<\/a> published in January 2025 in the scientific journal Nature Medicine, the annual number of dementia cases will double by 2060 and women more likely to develop the cognitive disease<\/a>. Young-onset, or early, dementia\u2014which occurs when people develop dementia symptoms before the age of 65\u2014is also on the rise.<\/p>\n

More from Flow Space<\/p>\n

From lifestyle habits to environmental influences and even hidden genetic predispositions<\/a>, the latest science is shedding light on how our everyday choices and surroundings may quietly be shaping our brain health<\/a>. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the surprising connections between your lifestyle today and your brain\u2019s future, according to the latest science.<\/p>\n

Researchers Identify 15 Modifiable Risk Factors for Early Onset Dementia<\/p>\n

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause progressive decline in cognitive abilities<\/a>, including memory, reasoning and decision-making, severe enough to interfere with daily life. It results from damage to brain cells, which disrupts their ability to communicate.<\/p>\n

About 10% of Americans over age 65 have been diagnosed with dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), with nearly seven million people in the U.S. having Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>, the most common type of dementia which impairs areas critical to memory and learning.<\/p>\n

The Alzheimer\u2019s Association estimates that between 220,000 and 640,000 people are diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> or related dementia in the U.S. each year, and this type of dementia tends to be more aggressive than dementia that occurs later in life.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung-onset dementia can have significant consequences because it often affects individuals in their prime working years, leading to financial strain, career disruptions and heightened emotional stress for both the individual and their family,\u201d Dr. Joel Salinas, MBA<\/a>, a clinical assistant professor in cognitive neurology for NYU Langone Health, tells Flow Space. \u201cAdditionally, these patients may face delays in diagnosis since symptoms are less often associated with a neurodegenerative disease at younger ages.\u201d<\/p>\n

For these reasons, knowing and addressing modifiable risk factors is crucial.<\/p>\n

A 2024 study<\/a> published in JAMA Neurology identified 15 key risk factors that could increase the risk of early onset dementia. They include:<\/p>\n

Researchers found that the same lifestyle issues that threaten the brain in younger people are identical to those that develop dementia later in life, and many of these factors share a degree of interdependency.<\/p>\n

For example, people with depression might also have alcohol use disorder or suffer from social isolation. Or people with a lower formal education might also have a lower economic status. These factors often interact with one another, compounding their overall effects on brain health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdentifying risk factors provides a valuable opportunity for prevention,\u201d Salinas says. \u201cIt empowers individuals and healthcare systems to especially target modifiable factors\u2014such as managing diabetes, addressing depression or improving social connections\u2014to potentially delay or reduce the risk of developing dementia. Early interventions could improve quality of life and reduce the societal and economic burden of dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Lifestyle and Genetic Predispositions Can Increase the Risk of Early Onset Dementia<\/p>\n

Each of these modifiable risk factors can directly or indirectly harm the brain by affecting its structure and function. Low socioeconomic status may limit access to healthcare and education, both of which can be protective for brain health, while social isolation reduces cognitive stimulation and increases stress, negatively impacting brain function.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrokes damage brain cells and blood vessels, heightening the risk of vascular dementia,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Peter Gliebus<\/a>, a board-certified neurologist and director of cognitive and behavioral neurology at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, tells Flow Space. \u201cAnd high blood sugar from diabetes and heart disease, including hypertension and high cholesterol, can impair brain function, while chronic depression also alters brain structure and function.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds that lifestyle choices significantly impact brain performance over time. Regular physical exercise<\/a> increases blood flow to the brain, promoting new neural connections and reducing cognitive decline risk.<\/p>\n

In fact, a recent study<\/a> in Nature Medicine found that getting at least 3,000 daily steps slowed cognitive decline among adults at higher risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s; the brain health benefits peaked when people increased their daily step counts to between 5,000 and 7,000 steps per day.<\/p>\n

\u201cMentally stimulating activities can also help build cognitive reserve, which can delay dementia onset,\u201d Gliebus says. \u201cSocial interaction enhances emotional well-being and reduces depression risk, which is linked to cognitive decline.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Early Onset Dementia<\/p>\n

Reducing the risk of young-onset dementia involves several key lifestyle changes. Gliebus recommends getting regular physical activity<\/a> (aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week) to enhance blood flow to the brain and a balanced diet<\/a> rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to support brain health.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that the MIND Diet<\/a>, an eating plan rich in the aforementioned foods, can be helpful to reduce the risk of neurogenerative disease and promote brain health. It\u2019s a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet.<\/p>\n

\u201cA diet like the MIND Diet is going to help reduce all chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, all of these chronic diseases that contribute to dementia later in life,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Kellyann Niotis<\/a>, a board-certified preventative neurologist who specializes in risk reduction strategies for neurodegenerative disorders, previously told Flow Space.<\/p>\n

Prioritizing quality sleep<\/a> each night is also crucial, as poor sleep is linked to cognitive decline.\u00a0Aim for at least seven hours of high quality, consistent sleep<\/a> per night.<\/p>\n

\u201cEngaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as learning new skills, builds cognitive reserve,\u201d adds Gliebus. \u201cStrong social ties<\/a> and activities promote emotional well-being and reduce cognitive decline risk, and managing stress<\/a> is important, as chronic stress adversely affects brain health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing mental health issues early, such as treating depression and anxiety, can also have a strong impact, along with regular medical check-ups to help with early detection and management of risk factors that could harm brain health.<\/p>\n

In a December 2024 study<\/a> published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology, Salinas and his colleagues included suggestions for healthy brain function.<\/p>\n

The study highlights how interconnected our body\u2019s systems are\u2014what\u2019s good for the heart is good for the brain\u2014and why we should all prioritize health at every stage of life. They developed a mnemonic device \u201cSAFEST BRAINS\u201d to help patients implement best practices for brain health.<\/p>\n

S\u2013 Sleep
A\u2013 Affect, mood and mental health
F\u2013 Food, diet and supplements
E\u2013 Exercise
S\u2013 Supportive social interaction
T\u2013 Trauma avoidance<\/p>\n

B\u2013 Blood pressure
R\u2013 Risks: Metabolic and genetic factors
A\u2013 Affordability and adherence\u00a0
I\u2013 Infection
N\u2013 Negative exposures
S\u2013 Structural and societal determinants of health<\/p>\n

\u201cBrain health is a lifelong journey,\u201d Salinas says. \u201cThe earlier we adopt brain-healthy habits, the better positioned we are to protect cognitive function as we age.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dementia is often thought of as a distant possibility or something that only affects those in the last…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":286220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[64,63,6192,73117,137,500,165212,165213,25673],"class_list":{"0":"post-286219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cognitive-decline","11":"tag-early-onset-dementia","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-healthcare","14":"tag-joel-salinas","15":"tag-modifiable-risk-factors","16":"tag-risk-factors"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/286220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=286219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=286219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}