Alcohol Use Disorders Associated With Early-Onset Dementia

A study published in the Lancet Public Health found alcohol use disorders are a major risk factor for the onset of all types of dementia, especially early-onset dementia, reports Radiology Advisor . Dementia onset was defined by the age at first dementia diagnosis, and diagnoses that occurred when a person was less than 65 years old were classified as early-onset dementia. Out of 31,624,156 adults released from French hospitals between 2008 and 2013, 1,109,343 were diagnosed with dementia and were included in the study. Among 5.2 percent (57,353 of 1,109,343) of the cases of early-onset dementia, many were either alcohol-related by definition (38.9 percent) or had an additional diagnosis of alcohol use disorders (17.6 percent). It was the researchers' conclusion that based on the study's findings, screening for heavy alcohol use should be included in routine medical care, with treatment interventions offered when deemed necessary.