15 Risk Factors That Can Cause It
There are words that lead to others. In the case of “dementia,” the chosen one “gets old.” While it is true that age is the best known risk factor for dementia, it is by no means the only one. In fact, this disorder does not only affect older people. Early cases (when symptoms appear before age 65) up to 9%According to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is estimated that around 3.9 million people worldwide suffer from early onset dementia.
A recent study published in the journal JAMA Neurologywho analyzed the data 356,052 individuals from the UK Biobank. (a biomedical database with genetic and medical information on half a million English people) to obtain risk factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable, for dementia praecox. Specific, Participants were under 65 years of age (mean 54 years) and did not have a diagnosis of dementia at baseline.. After an eight-year follow-up period, 485 cases of early-onset dementia were identified.
Although the prevalence of early-onset dementia is low compared to the percentage of people over 65 who have it, the authors are mindful that personal and social influence The former is more important, especially because of the consequences it entails at the work, social and family level. Identification of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors will help develop new strategies aimed at preventing this condition.
Of the 39 risk factors observed by scientists, 15 demonstrated a connection with this pathology, namely:
- Diabetes. Very high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) leads to the brain receives less oxygen and neuron loss may occur.
- Alcohol use disorder. The neurotoxic effect of this substance can provoke dementia.
- Social isolation.
- Stroke causing cognitive impairment.
- Less educational training.
- Vitamin D deficiency: Scientific evidence suggests that this vitamin acts as a protector against neurodegenerative processes.
- Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure caused by standing up).
- Low socio-economic level.
- Having two copies of the APOE4 gene significantly increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Hearing impairment.
- Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP).
- Chronic stress.
- Heart disease.
- Depression.
- Physical fragility.
Hearing loss and risk of dementia
The relationship between hearing loss and the risk of dementia was recently examined in a Danish study that involved more than half a million people aged 50 years and over and was followed for an average of nearly nine years. The authors of the paper concluded that this suggests that hearing aids may prevent or delay the onset and progression of dementia..
“This is a large population-based study in which deafness was associated with a small increased risk of dementia, which was slightly reduced in people who used hearing aids,” said Rob Howard, MD, professor at the Science Media Center (SMC). Elderly Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, University College London (UK).
Of course, according to the expert, “still No randomized clinical trial has shown that encouraging deaf people to use hearing aids significantly reduces the development of dementia.” And he adds: “We should probably wait for the results of these trials before recommending it as a way to prevent dementia. However, for those who find them acceptable and useful, hearing aids bring many other positive benefits to the lives of people with hearing loss.”
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