No! In fact, in the future dementia will hopefully begin even later in life, if we manage to control obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other vascular risk factors.
Only a small number of cases of dementia begin in the 50s (and some even in the 40s), and many of these are either cases of "Familial Alzheimer's disease" or Frontotemporal dementias which are strongly genetic illnesses. The most common dementia is Alzheimer's disease which typically begins in the 60s, 70s and 80s. While genetic factors do influence the age of onset of this disease, vascular risk factors also play a role. By reducing the rates of smoking, treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and reducing the rates of obesity, the onset of this illness could be delayed. Results from the famous Framingham Heart Study in the US have already begun to show the incidence of Alzheimer's disease appears to be declining, likely as a results of the benefits of these interventions. Along with exercise, mentally stimulating activities and a Mediterranean diet, it is possible we can even push the onset of the disease much later into life. Finally, if we can find a disease modifying agent that delays the onset of the illness by even 5 years, we will be able to cut the number of patients with dementia in half.
Professor Nathan Herrmann
Nathan Herrmann MD FRCPC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Lewar Chair in Geriatric Psychiatry
Head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Only a small number of cases of dementia begin in the 50s (and some even in the 40s), and many of these are either cases of "Familial Alzheimer's disease" or Frontotemporal dementias which are strongly genetic illnesses. The most common dementia is Alzheimer's disease which typically begins in the 60s, 70s and 80s. While genetic factors do influence the age of onset of this disease, vascular risk factors also play a role. By reducing the rates of smoking, treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and reducing the rates of obesity, the onset of this illness could be delayed. Results from the famous Framingham Heart Study in the US have already begun to show the incidence of Alzheimer's disease appears to be declining, likely as a results of the benefits of these interventions. Along with exercise, mentally stimulating activities and a Mediterranean diet, it is possible we can even push the onset of the disease much later into life. Finally, if we can find a disease modifying agent that delays the onset of the illness by even 5 years, we will be able to cut the number of patients with dementia in half.
Professor Nathan Herrmann
Nathan Herrmann MD FRCPC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Lewar Chair in Geriatric Psychiatry
Head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
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