TWO telltale signs of dementia that have nothing to do with memory could appear up to 11 years before typical symptoms, researchers say.
The brain robbing disease is associated with memory loss and mood changes, but Australian researchers said subtle bodily changes could serve as early indicators of the condition.
The research – conducted by scientists at Monash University in Melbourne – found that rapid weight loss and high levels of ‘good’ cholesterol may be early warning signs of dementia.
The team looked at the heart and metabolism health of 1,078 people with dementia and 4,312 people without the condition.
They found people with dementia had experienced more rapid weight loss, based on declines in body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements, up to 11 years before their diagnosis.
They also had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – also known as ‘good’ cholesterol because it helps protect the heart and blood vessels from disease – around five years before diagnosis, compared with those who did not have dementia.
Researchers said their provide insight into changes the body undergoes before dementia.
They may even provide a pathway for flagging older adults who are likely to develop, so that they can be given treatment earlier.
“Dementia has a long pre-clinical phase,” study authors wrote in a paper published to JAMA – meaning signs of the disease may accumulate years before recognised symptoms lead to a diagnosis.
“Early identification of individuals provides opportunities for early interventions and treatments prior to the onset of dementia,” they said.
It’s estimated that close to a million people are living with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.4 million people by 2040.
For their study, researchers regularly measured nine cardiometabolic factors from participants for up to 11 years.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”The 14 science-backed ways to prevent dementia” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6360314377112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]This included people’s waist circumference, body weight, and height, blood pressure, levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol.
A total of 1,078 participants were diagnosed with dementia. Researchers used a number of measures to ascertain these diagnoses.
Compared to the control group, the 1,078 dementia cases had a lower BMI and waist circumference up to 11 years before their diagnosis, with a significantly faster decline.
While control participants saw a steady increase in HDL levels, compared to those with dementia, who saw a sudden increase around five years before diagnosis.
Researchers observed that these findings showed that the body shapes and lipid levels of people with dementia “deviated” from the general population up to a decade before the onset of symptoms.
Researchers explained that weight loss may occur as a result of dementia, as cognitive decline lead to “reduced appetite and worsened cooking skills”.
Study participants who were diagnosed with dementia were more likely to live alone, meaning they might have had less help in preparing food and feeding themselves.
However, the authors reckoned that dementia may also “affect brain regions that regulate body composition” – the hypothesis has been explored in smaller studies.
They said their study findings were “an important contribution to the field”.
“Our results suggest that weight loss before dementia is likely to occur much earlier than previously reported,” they said.
“Indeed, early neuropathological changes, such as amyloid
accumulation, may start up to 15 to 24 years before diagnosis.
“Therefore, our results suggest that changes in body may start during the preclinical phase of dementia, preceding symptom
manifestation.”