Top 15 MUST KNOW Risk Factors for Dementia
Developing dementia can sometimes feel inevitable these days. Over 6.5 million adults over 65 are already living with brain-destroying Alzheimer’s.
Even those under 65 are at risk for “early-onset” dementia. This particularly aggressive form of the disease impacts up to 640,000 people.
No matter which category you fall into, it’s time to act to reduce your risk.
And researchers recently identified the top 15 risk factors to pay attention to.
The good news is up to 40 percent of ALL Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing specific risk factors.
There are no guarantees in life, of course. But when it comes to our health, you can often take steps to turn the odds in your favor.
Lucky for us, that IS the case with Alzheimer’s. And a recent study has given us a “checklist” to do precisely that.
Researchers tracked more than 350,000 people under 65. They analyzed all kinds of risk factors, from genetic to environmental, to see what had the BIGGEST impact on early-onset dementia.
They pinpointed the following TOP 15 risk factors for developing dementia:
- Having less formal education
- Being of lower socioeconomic status
- Having two copies of the APOE4 gene
- Alcohol use disorder
- Social isolation
- Vitamin D deficiency
- High C-reactive protein levels (a marker of inflammation)
- Lower handgrip strength (a reliable indicator of vitality and decline in physical and mental function)
- No alcohol use (moderation is best)
- Hearing impairment
- Having type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Stroke
Remember that these same risk factors impact dementia risk in older adults regardless of age.
They all contribute to compromised brain metabolism, impacting how the brain uses glucose to power its cells. Plus, they trigger brain-damaging inflammation and free radicals.
Many of the factors also overlap. For example, someone with alcohol use disorder is more likely to have muscle loss, vitamin deficiencies, depression, and cardiovascular disease.
And, of course, they aren’t always entirely preventable. But when you’re AWARE of your vulnerabilities, you can take countermeasures to reduce your OVERALL risk.
In fact, something as simple as exercising more helps form new brain cells, synapses, and blood vessels.
And boosting your mood through regular yoga, social stimulation, or mindfulness ALSO improves cognitive health.
To put a significant dent in your Alzheimer’s risk, act NOW to start reducing your modifiable risk factors.
P.S. Dementia risk PLUMMETS with a personalized plan.
SOURCE:
Hendriks S, Ranson JM, Peetoom K, et al., “Risk Factors for Young-Onset Dementia in the UK Biobank.” JAMA Neurol. Published online December 26, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.4929
