2 Life Stages Early Dementia Signs Peak At
HuffPost UK • • health
Key Points:
- A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia reveals that early dementia symptoms may appear in two distinct windows, starting from the late 50s through early 70s, based on cognitive tests, blood biomarkers, and brain scans.
- Data from 2,082 participants in the Mayo Clinic Study of Ageing showed cognitive decline beginning around age 50, followed by amyloid plaque accumulation in the 60s, and tau protein buildup in the late 60s to early 70s.
- Blood markers such as plasma GFAP, NfL, and p-tau, along with brain atrophy in memory-related areas, tend to change significantly between ages 68-72.
- The study identifies two key windows for dementia-related changes: early 60s for cognition and amyloid PET changes, and late 60s to early 70s for blood markers and neurodegeneration.
- Researchers hope these findings will improve early dementia detection and diagnosis, with blood biomarkers playing a crucial role in identifying candidates for preventive treatments.
