Risk of young onset dementia linked to health and lifestyle factors as well as genetics

A new study suggests that a wide range of risk factors, including health and lifestyle factors, could be linked to young onset dementia. Researchers in the UK and the Netherlands studied more than 350,000 people younger than 65 and identified 15 factors linked to a higher risk of the condition.

Hearing loss, diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption were among these 15 factors and are also risk factors for late onset dementia. However, the study also identified several new factors specifically linked to young onset dementia – these include vitamin D deficiency and levels of proteins, called C-reactive proteins, in the blood.

There are many causes of young onset dementia, which affects people under the age of 65. Previous research has identified several genetic factors that can lead to young onset dementia. There has been less research indicating how much environmental and lifestyle factors also play a role in determining whether someone will get the condition.

This is one of the first large-scale studies to explore which ‘potentially modifiable’ risk factors – ones we may be able to influence – may have the largest impact on young onset dementia risk.