Struggling at work and a decline in productivity could be an indicator of early-onset dementia up to 15 years before a formal diagnosis, according to a study by Finnish researchers. Early-onset dementia affects individuals before the age of 65, leading to a premature deterioration in cognitive and professional capabilities.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, analyzed nearly 800 patients diagnosed with early-onset dementia and approximately 7,000 healthy individuals. Researchers found that individuals who later received an early-onset dementia diagnosis earned, on average, $13,800 less per year than their healthy counterparts in the decade and a half leading up to their diagnosis. This wage gap was attributed to reduced productivity.
Over the 12-year study period, it was estimated that patients lost about $86,000 in wages due to the condition. Dr. Eino Solje, a neurologist who led the research, stated that early-onset dementia impacts individuals during their most productive years, often resulting in a decreased ability to work, higher unemployment rates, and earlier departures from jobs.
These changes can significantly reduce household income and contribute to broader economic consequences. The findings suggest that the link between reduced work productivity and early-onset dementia can be observed up to 15 years prior to diagnosis. This prolonged period of unrecognized symptoms, coupled with diagnostic delays, contributes to the long-term socioeconomic impact of the disease.
Symptoms often begin manifesting at work, with individuals struggling to remember appointments, execute familiar tasks, concentrate, or follow conversations. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms can emerge, including significant mood swings, confusion about time and place, and suspicion towards loved ones.
While there is no cure for dementia, medications are available that may help manage and slow its progression. An estimated 200,000 Americans are affected by early-onset dementia, with a notable increase in diagnoses in recent years; health insurance data indicated a 200 percent rise in claims for the condition between 2013 and 2017.
The study included various forms of early-onset dementia, with 421 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, 179 with frontotemporal dementia, and nearly 200 with other forms like vascular dementia. Data was adjusted for factors such as salaries and pre-existing medical conditions that could influence earnings.
Further breakdown revealed that individuals with early-onset Alzheimer's showed lower earnings compared to healthy peers six years before diagnosis, while those with frontotemporal dementia experienced reduced earnings from 11 years prior. However, the study emphasizes that lower wages are a potential warning sign and not definitive proof of dementia, as other factors could contribute to similar financial outcomes.
The causes of early-onset dementia are not fully understood, though genetic predisposition plays a role in about one in 10 cases. A family history of the disease increases an individual's risk. Other contributing factors may include past brain injuries from strokes or heavy alcohol consumption.
Diagnosis typically involves a medical assessment of warning signs. While some individuals with early-onset dementia continue to work for years post-diagnosis, others stop working. The average life expectancy after diagnosis for those with early-onset dementia is approximately nine years.