To be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is cruel enough for those in their senior years, but for those in their 50s, 40s, or even 30s, it’s devastating.
Data on how often dementia diagnosis occurs in younger age groups has been limited, but a major new European study shows the numbers are far worse than anyone imagined. While the total numbers are still relatively small, the increasing disease incidence is alarming. Over a short period, the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s has almost doubled! Here’s how to protect yourself…
Key Takeaways
- New data from Finland indicates that early-onset Alzheimer's cases have nearly doubled in the last decade among adults aged 30 to 64.
- Early-onset dementia often goes undiagnosed because symptoms don’t look the same as they do in seniors.
- Addressing the 15 known risk factors for early-onset dementia could help prevent the disease.
What Is Early-Onset Dementia?
Dementia is usually seen as a disease adults might succumb to during their senior years, but it also occurs in people under the age of 64, making up around 10% of cases. When this happens, it’s called early onset dementia (EOD).
Diagnosing EOD is difficult because doctors are less likely to consider the varying behavioral, language, or motor symptoms patients present with as dementia in younger age groups. This is reflected in the time to diagnosis. In seniors, it takes an average of 2.8 years to diagnose dementia, but in those under 65, it takes 4.4 years.
Symptoms of Early-Onset Dementia
Early-onset dementia can present with more varied symptoms than typical late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. For example, unlike Alzheimer's disease, where memory loss is often the first symptom, EOD may initially present with non-memory-related symptoms, including behavioral changes such as apathy, impulsivity, or inappropriate behavior. Mood changes such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, or even psychiatric symptoms like delusions or hallucinations are common.
EOD symptoms can also include trouble speaking, balance problems, difficulty with fine motor tasks, and challenges completing tasks that require multiple steps.
These symptoms frequently lead to misdiagnosis of psychiatric disorders, stress, or other neurological conditions.
It’s hard to say with any degree of certainty how many people succumb to EOD because population studies are scarce, and the ones conducted are based on small numbers of people. However, a study in Finland has changed all of that.
Finland – A World Leader in EOD Diagnosis
Scientists conducted a major study to explore EOD in the working-age population of Finland using MRI and PET imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis of Alzheimer’s biomarkers, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments.
The researchers analyzed all 12,490 patients diagnosed with dementia in two hospitals from 2010 to 2021, making this study one of the largest in the world to date. By the way, the two hospitals diagnose practically all cases of EOD in their respective provinces, which makes the data the most comprehensive. In addition, the team individually reviewed all diagnoses from patient charts. If incorrect, they were removed, as were diagnoses that changed during the follow-up period.
The findings of their analysis are very concerning.
Incidence of Alzheimer’s Almost Doubles
The study shows an EOD incidence of 20.5 cases per 100,000 among people aged 30 to 64, and 33.7 for the 45 to 64 age group. While these numbers are small, these figures are 50% higher than reported in other international studies.
It gets even worse.
Even though the Alzheimer’s form of dementia is typically thought of as a disease of older adults, surprisingly, it was the most prevalent subtype of dementia (48.2%), followed by frontotemporal dementias (23%), and Lewy body dementias (6%).
Johanna Krüger, first author of the study published in the journal Neurology in July, said: “The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease nearly doubled. This cannot be explained simply by better diagnostics and earlier seeking of treatment, as we did not see an increase in the incidence of other dementias.”
More alarming still, the incidence rate of early-onset Alzheimer’s increased steadily over the study period, yet other forms of EOD remained relatively stable. This suggests a genuine increase in early-onset Alzheimer’s over other forms of dementia.
Our Takeaway
The results of this study confirm previous reports from commercial insurance data showing more young people are getting Alzheimer's. Fortunately, a lot can be done to prevent this by acting on as many of the 15 risk factors for EOD as you can. The best prevention starts with diet and lifestyle. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins (especially fish), nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil. The Mediterranean diet is a great example. Avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, which can contribute to inflammation and cognitive decline.
It's also important to stay socially active and engage in regular physical exercise, especially strength and flexibility training. Address any chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol, manage your stress levels, and get quality sleep. It’s also essential to nourish your brain with the right supplements. Vitamin deficiencies, especially in Vitamin D and B12, are linked to poor cognitive function and memory loss.
Summary
A recent European study shows a worrying rise in early-onset dementia (EOD), particularly Alzheimer's disease, among younger adults aged 30 to 64. Conducted in Finland, the study reveals that the incidence of early-onset Alzheimer’s has nearly doubled over the past decade, now reaching 20.5 cases per 100,000 people in the 30-64 age group. This increase cannot be solely attributed to better diagnostics or earlier treatment-seeking, as other forms of dementia have remained relatively stable. The findings underscore the need for greater awareness and proactive management of the 15 known risk factors for EOD to help prevent its onset in younger populations.
