Early Signs of Early-Onset Dementia: Decline in Work Performance
A new study published in Neurology found that people diagnosed with early-onset dementia showed measurable work productivity decline up to 15 years before their diagnosis. Tracking nearly 800 patients in Finland, the study found that income losses tied to the condition grew steadily in the years leading up to diagnosis, averaging β¬74,577 (about $86,000) per person.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers tracked 793 people diagnosed with early-onset dementia at two hospitals in Finland over 12 years, matching each patient by age and sex to 10 people without dementia (7,926 controls). They compared incomes using national tax records and adjusted for education and other health conditions using national registry data.
Timing of Productivity Losses by Dementia Type
- Alzheimer's disease: Productivity losses became apparent about 6 years before diagnosis
- Frontotemporal dementia: Decline began 11 years earlier
- Alpha-synucleinopathies (including Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease dementia): Losses only showed up around the time of diagnosis
- Other forms (vascular and mixed dementias): Consistently high productivity losses throughout the study period
Expert Commentary
Dr. Edmundo Rodriguez-Frias, medical contributor of Full of Life recovery center in New Jersey, told Newsweek: 'This study is significant as it supports what many dementia experts have observed in clinical practice. Cognitive decline likely occurs for several years prior to receiving the official diagnosis. The first sign could be a noticeable decline in job performance, especially for those with early-onset dementia who are still working.'
Limitations and Future Directions
The study is retrospective and cannot prove cause and effect. Future research should incorporate neuropsychological tests and develop interventions to prevent or delay productivity decline. Rodriguez-Frias advises: 'If a previously high-functioning individual develops persistent difficulty with planning, task management, decisions, language use, or adapting to new tasks, especially if others also notice these changes, it may be worth talking to your doctor instead of dismissing it as normal aging or work-related stress.'
Xiaoshu Health App can sync with Apple Health to track relevant indicators and help you monitor cognitive health changes.