Alzheimer’s disease associated with 10 health conditions up to 15 years before it's diagnosed
Research suggests that Alzheimer’s may be preceded by up to 10 health conditions as early as 15 years before diagnosis.
Major depressive disorder was identified as the earliest associated condition, emerging nine years prior to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
As we previously reported, other associated conditions include anxiety, constipation, and weight loss.
READ MORE:Four pancreatic cancer warning signs that can begin in the legs to never ignore
READ MORE:'I tried social experiment on my neighbours – it changed my outlook on life'
Researchers noted that it remains unclear whether these conditions are symptoms, risk factors, causes, or early warning signs of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that progressively impairs memory and thinking skills. It is thought to be responsible for up to 70% of dementia cases.
The study's researchers deemed Alzheimer's one of the 'principal health challenges of the 21st century'.
The cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, and currently, there is no cure.
However, The NHS notes several established factors believed to increase the risk of developing the condition: advancing age, family history, untreated depression, and lifestyle factors or health conditions linked to heart disease.
Published in The Lancet Digital Health, the study by the Paris Brain institute aimed to confirm established dementia risk factors and identify new ones.
The research could pave the way for earlier or new interventions for this devastating condition.
Researchers analysed Alzheimer’s patient data, reviewing records from 20,214 patients in the UK over a 24-year period and 19,458 individuals in France across 21 years.
The study is the first to identify constipation as a potential risk factor that may emerge up to seven years prior to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Health conditions linked to later Alzheimer's diagnosis
Major depression
Anxiety
Constipation
Abnormal weight loss
Reaction to severe stress
Sleep disorders
Hearing loss
Type of arthritis called cervical spondylosis
Falls
Fatigue
Researcher Thomas Nedelec from the Aramis team said: "The connections made allowed us to confirm known associations, such as hearing problems or depression, and other less known factors or early symptoms, such as cervical spondylosis or constipation.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
"However, we are only reporting statistical associations. These will have to be the subject of further studies to understand the underlying mechanisms.
"The question remains as to whether the health problems encountered are risk factors, symptoms, or warning signs of the disease."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
