Learn about the signs of early Alzheimer's disease in young people and understand how genetic predisposition and lifestyle can influence its development.
Published on 08/08/2024 at 12:49 | Updated on 08/08/2024 at 12:52
a Alzheimer's disease Not exclusive to the elderly, It can start at the age of thirty, a condition known as Early Alzheimer's disease.
This type of dementia, which affects about 3.9 million people aged 30 to 64 worldwide, is less common but no less serious.
In Brazil, more than a million people live with some form of dementia, and the Alzheimer's Association estimates that the majority of these cases are Alzheimer's disease.
The World Health Organization also reports that nearly 70% of dementia cases are diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.
According to neurologist Leandro Telles, in an interview with Saúde em Dia, the disease is neurodegenerative and leads to a progressive decline in cognitive, behavioral and motor functions over time.
“The clinical progression may vary, but in general, we have a slowly progressive disease, leading to cognitive and motor decline in the final stages,” explains Telles.
Signs of Alzheimer's in young people
Although memory loss is the most characteristic symptom of Alzheimer's disease in older adults, the condition can manifest differently in younger people.
In addition to memory loss, young people with early Alzheimer's may have difficulty paying attention, less ability to imitate gestures and problems with spatial awareness, notes Mark Dallas, professor of cellular neuroscience at the University of Reading.
“Some people may also experience increased anxiety before diagnosis, perhaps due to awareness of changes occurring for no apparent reason,” Dallas notes.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of neurodegenerative dementia in older adults. Freepic / Image Bank
Causes and genetic predisposition
Hey Alzheimer's disease Early life is often associated with Genetic predisposition. “Almost always, there is a genetic predisposition inherited by several genes, which manifests itself depending on environmental factors, such as longevity, education and clinical diseases,” highlights Leandro Telles.
He adds that for some families, this predisposition can lead to younger cases of Alzheimer's, although most typical cases appear after age 65.
For those with a family history of dementia or concerns about risk, genetic testing can help confirm the presence of genes linked to Alzheimer's disease.
These tests are performed by private companies and may be helpful for individuals who have symptoms or concerns about their future diagnosis.
Prevention and Lifestyle
Although genes cannot be changed, research suggests that a healthy lifestyle can help strengthen the brain against disease.
Studies show that people with a genetic predisposition to early-onset Alzheimer's disease who exercise regularly perform better on memory tests.
“When these people exercise for more than two and a half hours a week, they do better on memory tests than those who are inactive,” Tellis concludes.
Monitoring the signs and adopting a healthy lifestyle can be crucial for early detection and effective management of the disease. Alzheimer's disease, Even at younger ages.
