Researchers who followed more than 7,000 people for 12 years say there is a major warning sign of dementia that may appear over a decade before a formal diagnosis.
Although dementia is most commonly linked with later life, symptoms can begin much earlier, even if that is far less common in younger age groups. Early-onset, or young-onset, dementia refers to cases diagnosed before age 65.
Dementia UK states that when the condition begins before someone turns 65, it is referred to as young-onset, or early-onset, dementia.
It makes up around 5% of all dementia cases, but it can still affect people in their 40s and 30s, and in very rare situations, even those in their 20s or teenage years.
A recent study from researchers in Finland suggests that one particular pattern could give doctors an earlier clue that someone may later develop the condition.
The team found that a person’s work performance and earning history over time may help signal early-onset dementia long before current diagnosis methods typically do. The researchers used registry and administrative data to track changes in employment and income over many years, looking for trends that emerged before diagnosis.
According to the findings, people who later developed early-onset dementia were earning an average of $13,800 less per year than those who did not, beginning about 15 years before diagnosis.
As those changes built up, the overall reduction in productivity was linked to a total wage loss of about $86,000 per patient.
Study author Dr. Eino Solje said the findings suggest that early-onset dementia can affect work life for years before diagnosis, with productivity losses showing up well before a person is formally identified as having the condition.
He added that early-onset dementia affects people during their most productive years and can be associated with a decreased ability to work, increased unemployment and leaving jobs sooner than planned.
“Early-onset dementia affects people during their most productive years and is associated with a decreased ability to work, increased unemployment and leaving jobs sooner than planned.
“These changes can reduce household income and contribute to broader economic impact. Our study found an association between reduced work productivity and early-onset dementia up to 15 years before diagnosis.”
In related reporting on the study, the largest productivity losses appeared in some forms of dementia years before diagnosis, while other subtypes showed changes closer to the time of diagnosis.
After the study, Solje said future work should include neuropsychological testing to monitor how cognition changes over time. He also called for new interventions aimed at preventing or delaying the drop in productivity.
Some of the more common signs of early-onset dementia include forgetting planned appointments, having trouble with everyday tasks that were once manageable, and struggling to stay focused or keep up with normal conversations.
Changes at work can also be easy to miss at first, especially if they happen gradually. People may start taking longer to complete routine tasks, make more mistakes, need more support than usual or have trouble managing deadlines and responsibilities they once handled well.
As the condition progresses, patients may also develop major mood changes, become confused about time and place, and show unusual suspicion toward relatives and friends.
There is currently no cure for dementia, although some medications can help slow its progression. Early assessment can still be important, since a timely diagnosis can help people and families plan ahead and access support, treatment and workplace accommodations sooner.