The devastating impact of early-onset dementia (EOD) on mortality rates is a stark reality that cannot be ignored. A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry has revealed a shocking six-fold increase in all-cause mortality among individuals diagnosed with EOD before the age of 65, compared to the control group.
EOD, affecting approximately 3.9 million people worldwide, accounts for a significant 5% of dementia cases. This study, focusing on a specific region in Finland, highlights the urgent need for attention and resources to be directed towards this often-overlooked demographic.
Among the 794 participants with EOD, the study revealed a median survival time of 8.7 years from diagnosis to death. The shortest survival times were observed in the frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and alpha-synucleinopathy (α-SYNU) groups, with median survival times of 6.9 and 7.0 years, respectively. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients had a slightly longer median survival time of 9.9 years.
The overall risk of death from any cause was a staggering 6.5 times higher in young-onset dementia patients compared to their age-matched peers.
Dr. Eino Solje, from the University of Eastern Finland, emphasizes the clinical and policy implications of these findings. “People with early-onset dementia are often still of working age, and accurate survival and mortality data are crucial for planning essential services, care pathways, and support for caregivers,” he says.
But here’s where it gets controversial: with such a significant impact on mortality, why is EOD research often overshadowed by its late-onset counterpart? And what can be done to address this imbalance and improve the lives of those affected by EOD? These are questions that demand our attention and action.