How to reduce your risk for early-onset dementia
The prospect of slowly losing your ability to remember people, events, facts, and even feelings in your 70s or beyond is upsetting enough. But imagine what it's like to be told in your 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s that you have early-onset dementia. Unfortunately, a 2020 report says the number of commercially insured Americans with early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's disease increased by 373% among 30- to 44-year-olds, 311% among 45- to 54-year-olds, and 143% among 55- to 64-year-olds from 2013 to 2017. And although it may only add up to around 110 of every 100,000 adults between ages 30 and 64, according to the Mayo Clinic, you still want to do what you can to avoid becoming part of this escalating trend.
Fortunately, only about 11% of folks with early-onset Alzheimer's have a dominant, single-gene genetic predisposition, and research in The Lancet shows what risk factors you can avoid by making smart lifestyle decisions.
Out of around 545,000 participants in the study, just 807 developed early-onset dementia over the course of almost 14 years. But what was most striking was how diabetes, depression, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol overconsumption were independently associated with the diagnosis, increasing the risk of early-onset by around 50% to 100%. These damaging lifestyle choices turn on minor gene factors that promote dementia.
To learn how to protect your brain -- and every other organ system in your body -- check out my book, "The Great Age Reboot," and explore the benefits of therapeutic plasma exchange at lifespan-edge.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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