Have you started forgetting things at a young age? Experts warn: Addiction to this substance could lead to early-onset dementia
As the aging of the population becomes more common in developed countries around the world, people are more aware of dementia than in the past. However, the cause of early-onset dementia is not yet fully understood. The age of onset of this disease is approximately from 30 to 64 years old, which is more “younger” than other types of dementia. According to statistics from the International Dementia Society, the prevalence of early-onset dementia accounts for about 5% of the total; although the proportion is low, it may cause patients to face more difficult life difficulties earlier.
Have mood abnormalities or hallucinations occurred? Has the disease worsened? What are the possible signs of early-onset dementia?
Early-onset dementia initially has the same symptoms as senile dementia, with behavioral reactions such as memory loss and forgetfulness. As the condition worsens, symptoms such as mood abnormalities, personality changes, cognitive impairment, oral expression impairment, and decreased executive ability may occur. However, before diagnosis, patients are likely to be misdiagnosed as other mental illnesses due to insufficient public awareness of the disease, or due to stereotypes such as that dementia is generally associated with elderly patients, or even delays in seeking medical treatment.
According to information published in “Harvard Health Publishing”, the causes of early-onset dementia are mostly genetic, which means that if family members have a related history, they have a higher chance of developing dementia in old age or developing dementia early. Relatively high. Among them are neurodegenerative Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal lobe dementia, and vascular dementia caused by poor living habits.
According to foreign statistics, the prevalence rate of early-onset dementia is increasing year by year. From 2013 to 2017 in the United States, the proportion of people aged 30-64 years old who were diagnosed with early-onset dementia was 200% more than before. Looking at global statistics, there are also approximately The occurrence of 370,000 new cases shows that early-onset dementia has become one of the diseases that cannot be ignored.
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In addition to uncontrollable genetic factors, are there other controllable factors in early-onset dementia? The results of a 37-year Swedish study on enlisted soldiers pointed out that 487 soldiers suffered from early-onset dementia around the age of 54. It was found that the subjects had higher blood pressure and cognitive scores when they were young. The results are lower. In addition, research has also found that people with alcohol and non-alcoholic drug addiction, depression, stroke, and family history of dementia will affect the incidence of early-onset dementia.
A study on the UK Biobank also found that social isolation with less contact with the outside world, viral infections caused by insufficient vitamin D intake, poor hearing that reduces social ability, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, etc. factors, also related to early-onset dementia. In addition, socioeconomic status also has an impact on the development of cognitive reserve ability. Families with poor financial capabilities are at a higher risk of suffering from early-onset dementia.
“Harvard Health Publishing” emphasizes that based on the currently known literature, the eight high-risk factors for dementia are: genes (APOE4), alcoholism or alcohol use disorder, social isolation, vitamin D deficiency, and hearing loss. or hearing loss, stroke (history), cardiovascular disease (history), and diabetes in men. In addition, socioeconomic status, education level, low grip strength, and history of depression may also be risk factors.
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Overall, the development of early-onset dementia may be traceable and even preventable. Judging from the above-mentioned research results in Sweden and the United Kingdom, health status and lifestyle habits in young age account for about half of all influencing factors, indicating that early self-control of life will delay the onset of dementia.
Before dementia occurs, “Harvard Health Publishing” recommends that you can get enough vitamin D needed by your body through 15 minutes of sunshine every day, 3-4 times a week, while maintaining a good life. Habits, such as the 533 exercise principle, exercising five times a week for 30 minutes at a time, with a heart rate of 130 beats per minute, will help maintain body function and metabolism. In addition, the diet should reduce heavy sweetness, heavy salty, processed and pickled foods, and avoid excessive drinking. A balanced supplement of six major food categories can be used to maintain a healthy body, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of the three highs.
Brain activation is closely related to social activities. If there are regular gatherings or sufficient social interactions every week, the health of the brain nerves can be significantly activated. For people with hearing loss, hearing difficulties may lead to frustration in conversation and understanding. , thereby hindering the progress of conversation. Therefore, patients with hearing loss must also seek professional outpatient services and use hearing aids when necessary to maintain a good quality of life and social life.
In an environment where living habits and stress are increasing, dementia is no longer a disease of the elderly in the traditional sense, and the phenomenon of early onset is increasing year by year. When a patient with early-onset dementia appears in the family, the family needs to accept it early and take care of their future life. If the caregiver himself has children and parents to take care of, he will become a “sandwich group” in family care. When anticipating the possible increase in the sandwich population in the future, the public can start paying attention to the health of themselves and their families, and strive to delay the onset of dementia.
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A fresh look at risks for developing young-onset dementia
I’m too young to have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, right?
Risk Factors in Late Adolescence for Young-Onset Dementia in Men
Early-Onset Dementia and Alzheimer’s Rates Grow for Younger American Adults
Global incidence of young-onset dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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