Mental performance and the later risk of dementia are already influenced by lifestyle and health factors in young adulthood. This is the result of a new study by the University of Leipzig, which was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia .

The research team led by Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller evaluated data from the nationwide NAKO Health Study with almost 150,000 participants aged 20 to 75. With the help of the LIBRA index, which takes into account modifiable risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, depression or cardiovascular diseases, it was shown that a higher risk of dementia was already associated with significantly poorer cognitive performance in 20 to 39-year-olds.

While behavioral and psychosocial factors such as smoking, lack of exercise and depressive symptoms were the main focus among younger people, cardiovascular risks dominated among older people. On average, men had higher risk scores than women. Women with a low socioeconomic status were particularly affected.

Riedel-Heller explained that the nature of risk factors changes over the lifespan. Risk reduction should therefore not only begin in middle or older age, but should already begin in young adulthood.

The results also draw attention to social inequalities. People with a lower socioeconomic status had significantly less favourable risk profiles. The authors emphasized that prevention measures must reach these groups in particular in order not to increase social disadvantages.

The study shows for the first time that the LIBRA index is also meaningful for young adults and underlines the need for life-course-based prevention of dementia.

Original Paper:

Associations of the Lifestyle for Brain Health (LIBRA) index with cognitive functioning across adulthood: Variation by sex and socioeconomic status in the German National Cohort (NAKO) – PubMed

Read Also:

Moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea reduces the risk of dementia – MedLabPortal

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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