Midlife warning signs of a higher dementia risk

HAVING difficulty concentrating or losing personal confidence in midlife may put a person at an increased risk of dementia, according to a study.

- BY ELLA PICKOVER

Researchers said that experiencing six key symptoms of dementia in midlife may raise a person’s risk of the condition as they age.

Academics from University College London said these symptoms could be “early markers of underlying neuro-degenerative processes”.

The new research examined data on 5,811 people taking part in the UK Whitehall II study. Those involved were asked about their health, including questions about their mental health. During a followup period of an average of 23 years, 586 people developed dementia.

Writing in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, researchers said that six depressive symptoms “emerged as robust midlife indicators of increased dementia risk”.

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