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Early-onset dementia manifests before the age of 65. It presents unique challenges due to its impact on individuals in their prime years of productivity and personal fulfillment.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers identified 15 significant factors contributing to early-onset dementia among individuals under 65. Examining 350,000 participants from the UK Biobank study, they found connections to lower education, socioeconomic status, health issues like vitamin D deficiency and hearing impairment and lifestyle factors such as alcohol misuse and social isolation. This challenges the belief that only older individuals can reduce dementia risk through lifestyle changes. 

In a press release, researcher Dr. Stevie Hendriks explained that early-onset dementia is typically assumed to be genetic, but there are not a lot of studies on it. They wanted to explore its risk factors since it affects younger people, those who still have jobs, children, and busy lives, which means the impact of the illness is serious.

The findings emphasize the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors, particularly mental health elements like chronic stress and loneliness, to lessen the risk of early-onset dementia. This research holds transformative potential, offering new avenues for interventions and filling crucial knowledge gaps in understanding and preventing early-onset dementia.

Alcohol and dementia

Although little is known about the link between alcohol and the early onset of the illness, the two have previously been associated. In a study conducted in South Korea, researchers found that the reduction of drinking from a heavy to a moderate level and initiation of mild drinking were both associated with a decreased risk of dementia compared with a sustained level of drinking.

However, for cases in older adults, the answer may not be to eliminate alcohol completely. In another study from 2004, researchers found that while the long-term abuse of alcohol is related to the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome or alcohol dementia, light to moderate alcohol intake -- one to three glasses a day -- might also reduce the risk of dementia and AD.