logo
A Study Has Revealed The Biggest Risk Factors For Getting Early Dementia, And Knowledge Is Power

A Study Has Revealed The Biggest Risk Factors For Getting Early Dementia, And Knowledge Is Power

Yahoo19-06-2025
A recent study by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University published in JAMA Neurology has identified some of the factors that can lead to early cases of dementia ― some of which may surprise you.
The data analyzed the behaviors of over 350,000 participants younger than 65 across the United Kingdom to evaluate young-onset dementia, which occurs before age 65. The researchers found there are 15 common issues that can contribute to the early development of the condition. A few have to do with genetics and other elements outside our control, but many others are modifiable.
The study is meaningful to experts because it 'looks at young-onset dementia risk factors in a way that has only been done in late-onset dementias previously,' according to Dr. Kevin Bickart, an assistant professor in neurology at the University of California Los Angeles Health's David Geffen School of Medicine. The study features 'a very large sample that was prospectively followed from healthy baseline to a dementia diagnosis with lots of data collection.'
Here's what to know:
The biggest risk factors for young-onset dementia:
Related: "This Has Taken Me Years And Years And YEARS To Figure Out": This Woman's Clever Way To Tell If Someone Is Your Real Friend Is Being Called The Most Accurate Thing Ever
Related: 25 Eye-Opening Confessions From A Trauma Therapist That Changed The Way I Think About Mental Health
The large-scale study looked at 39 possible risk factors and determined that 15 of them made the biggest difference when it came to developing dementia before the age of 65. Those include:
Social isolation
Lower formal education
Lower socioeconomic status
Carrying two copies of the APOE gene (a marker that influences Alzheimer's risk)
Vitamin D deficiency
Hearing impairment
Alcohol use disorder
No alcohol use (abstinence)
Depression
High C-reactive protein levels
Lower handgrip strength (physical frailty)
Orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure)
Stroke
Diabetes
Heart disease
Although some recognized risks are out of many people's control ― like being a carrier of the APOE gene or your socioeconomic status ― others can be managed through lifestyle changes.
What you can do to lower your risk of early-onset dementia.
Overall, the study results are consistent with what medical experts have been advising patients for years.
Dr. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, an assistant professor of psychiatry and of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, recommended three 'lifestyle measures' that folks may want to consider when trying to lower their risk of young-onset dementia ― starting with physical exercise.
'An active daily exercise practice can have far-reaching benefits, which include enhanced neurocognitive function,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said, adding that physical activity can boost neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons and synapses), vasculogenesis (the creation of new blood vessels) while also providing inherent mood benefits.
Next, focus on eating nourishing foods. Fesharaki-Zadeh championed a Mediterranean-based diet, mentioning its well-documented benefits.
'Such dietary practice, which includes food groups such as green leafy vegetables, olive oil, salmon and blueberries, is rich in vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants ― all neuroprotective factors,' he explained.
Fesharaki-Zadeh recommended cognitive, mood and social stimulation to keep your mind sharp.
For cognitive stimulation, this could look like learning a new language or attending a seminar, listening to music or dancing. Basically, anything that engages your mind will help it stay healthy. Mood stimulation, on the other hand, relates to stress reduction practices, 'such as mindfulness and yoga,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said.
As for social stimulation, it's pretty simple: Try to connect with other humans face-to-face and actually talk to them as much as possible. 'In the era of pandemic and now post-pandemic, quality social connections should increasingly be encouraged and practiced,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said.
While these habits don't cover the whole list of dementia risk factors, they are a pretty solid start.This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Also in Goodful: Therapists Are Revealing The Moments That Made Them Break Their "No Judgment" Rule, And I'm Honestly Speechless
Also in Goodful: 19 "Garbage" Modern Trends People Refuse To Partake In Despite Their Popularity
Also in Goodful: Medical Professionals Are Sharing "Mundane" Things That Actually Make So Many People Sick
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sir David Nabarro, WHO's special envoy for Covid-19, dies aged 75
Sir David Nabarro, WHO's special envoy for Covid-19, dies aged 75

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Sir David Nabarro, WHO's special envoy for Covid-19, dies aged 75

Sir David Nabarro, who was the World Health Organisation's (WHO) special envoy for Covid-19, has died aged 75. The WHO's director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened by the passing' of Sir David. London-born Sir David worked at the United Nations for 17 years, expanding nutrition programmes to underdeveloped countries and tackling health crises including outbreaks of malaria, bird flu and Ebola, before leaving in 2017. He was appointed as special envoy on Covid-19 for the WHO in 2020 and appeared on news programmes regularly throughout the pandemic, telling Sky News in June 2021 that humanity was going to have to learn how to 'co-exist' with Covid-19. Sir David was knighted at Buckingham Palace in March 2023 for his outstanding contribution to global health. Dr Tedros wrote on X: 'Deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of our dear friend, colleague and WHO Envoy David Nabarro. 'David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals. 'His work touched and impacted so many lives across the world. 'On behalf of WHO, I'm extending our heartfelt condolences to David's family, friends and colleagues. 'Rest in peace, my dear friend. We will dearly miss your expertise, wisdom and kindness.'

One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'
One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'

One of the world's rarest shark species has been captured on an underwater camera as it swam through a Welsh bay. The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. The Largest National Parks in the UK 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. How have people reacted online? Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters What is an angel shark? Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.

David Nabarro, British physician who led UN response to Ebola and COVID-19, dies
David Nabarro, British physician who led UN response to Ebola and COVID-19, dies

Associated Press

time3 hours ago

  • Associated Press

David Nabarro, British physician who led UN response to Ebola and COVID-19, dies

GENEVA (AP) — Dr. David Nabarro, a British physician who led the U.N. response to some of the biggest health crises in recent years, including bird flu, Ebola and the coronavirus pandemic, has died. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, confirmed Nabarro's death on social media platform X. 'David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals,' Tedros wrote Saturday. 'His work touched and impacted so many lives across the world.' King Charles knighted Nabarro in 2023 for his contributions to global health after he served as one of six special envoys to the WHO on COVID-19. He won the 2018 World Food Prize for his work on health and hunger issues. He also was a candidate for the top job at the WHO in 2017 but lost out to Tedros in the final round of voting. Nabarro left the U.N. later that year. The 4SD Foundation, a social enterprise in Switzerland focused on mentoring the next generation of leaders in global sustainable development, said its strategic director died at his home Friday in a 'sudden passing.' Other details were not immediately available. 'David's generosity and unwavering commitment to improve the lives of others will be sorely missed,' the foundation wrote on its website Saturday. Survivors include his wife, Flo, as well as his five children and seven grandchildren.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store