For a long time, dementia was believed to affect only the elderly. However, recent scientific findings have debunked this stereotype. It turns out the groundwork for cognitive decline is laid early in life, with some risk factors even coming into play before birth. Research in recent years shows that childhood and adolescent habits, lifestyle, and health directly influence the chances of developing dementia decades later.
Scientists from different countries have analyzed how various circumstances — from the specifics of pregnancy to upbringing conditions — may affect the brain later in life. Researchers examined not just genetics and heredity, but also factors like the mother’s age at childbirth, the interval between births, and the presence of siblings or twins. Some of these risk factors are beyond our control, but others can be managed.
Early risks
In 2023, specialists from Sweden and the Czech Republic published the results of a large-scale study revealing a link between certain birth circumstances and an increased risk of dementia in adulthood. For instance, a short interval between births, pregnancy after age 35, and being born into a large family may slightly raise the likelihood of cognitive disorders. While not all of these factors are up to parents to decide, a conscious approach to family planning can play a role.
But biological factors are not the only important thing. By adolescence, certain habits begin to develop that can affect brain health later in life. Smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of physical activity, and social isolation—all of these, according to experts, lay an invisible foundation for potential memory and thinking problems decades down the line.
Environmental influences
At the end of 2024, an international team of researchers led by specialists from Ireland analyzed risk factors among young people aged 18 to 39. They found that it’s not only lifestyle but also the environment that plays a significant role. Air pollution, head injuries, loss of hearing or vision, as well as low levels of education—all of these can contribute to early brain aging.
Researchers include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and depression among the medical risk factors. These conditions often arise from poor diet, stress, and a lack of regular physical activity. Importantly, many of them can be prevented or managed if people start taking care of themselves from a young age.
Long-term consequences
Research shows that cognitive abilities in adulthood are largely determined by the level of intelligence developed in childhood. Long-term studies have found that people with low scores on thinking tests at age 11 are more likely to experience dementia after 70. This suggests that differences in mental abilities are shaped long before old age and are not always linked to accelerated memory decline in later life.
Scientists have also found that some brain changes characteristic of dementia may be linked to injuries or certain behaviors in youth. For example, the effects of concussions or prolonged exposure to harmful substances can surface decades later. Even hearing or vision loss in early life can impact cognitive health in the future.
Lifelong prevention
Experts emphasize that effective dementia prevention should start long before the first symptoms appear. It is not only important to inform people about the risks, but also to create conditions for a healthy lifestyle at the societal level. Proposed measures include educational programs in schools, tax incentives to discourage unhealthy habits, and the creation of youth councils to discuss brain health at the local level.
At the national level, scientists are proposing the creation of a charter to support cognitive health, aiming to ensure everyone has access to essential information and assistance. Special attention is given to young people, who are increasingly interested in neurodiversity and want to understand how to maintain mental clarity for years to come.
New Challenges
The list of risk factors keeps growing. Scientists are now closely studying the impact of ultra-processed foods, drugs, screen time, chronic stress, and even microplastics on the brain. These areas require further research, but one thing is already clear: caring for cognitive health should be a priority from an early age.
In case you didn’t know, the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) is an international organization that brings together experts from various countries to study and prevent brain diseases. GBHI develops educational programs, supports scientific research, and promotes initiatives to improve the quality of life for people of all ages. In recent years, the institute has been actively collaborating with universities in Europe and America, and its experts regularly publish recommendations for maintaining cognitive health.
