Alcohol and Drug Abuse Can Be Factor in Early Onset Dementia

An article in HealthDay recently reported that researchers in Sweden found that alcohol intoxication can be a significant risk factor for early onset dementia in males. The condition is defined as the symptoms being in place before the age of 65.

The study appears on the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) and cites follow-up of nearly 500,000 Swedish men who had served in their military. The average age of early onset dementia was 54 and frequent alcohol intoxication was at the top of the list of risk factors.

Additional contributing factors noted by HealthDay included stroke, use of antipsychotic drugs, depression, drug abuse, a father with dementia, poor mental function as a teen, being short and having high blood pressure. These combined to account for nearly 70 percent of the cases they discovered.

The good news taken from the study is that many of the risk factors can be prevented, which shows that the prevalence of the condition can be reduced substantially.

The downside is that this is an example of one more mental health issue that substance abuse can create. If you or someone you love is currently having a problem with drugs or alcohol, contact Desert Cove Recovery for information on treating substance abuse issues.

Blake Nichols

Blake Nichols is the Director of Operations at Desert Cove Recovery. Blake battled his own addiction to drugs and alcohol and was given the gift of recovery at the age of 23. Since 2008, Blake has dedicated his life and career to the field of addiction. He has experience in all aspects of addiction treatment including direct care, admissions, marketing, and administration.

Blake feels that the greatest reward of working in the recovery field is being part of the transformation that a person goes through from the time they arrive and begin treatment, through the hard work and the Miracle of recovery, and ultimately the change into a confident and capable person ready to carry the message of recovery.

“My career has focused on serving others. I have accepted ownership of my responsibilities as that is the key to working at the highest level of professionalism. I have worked to be positive and offer solution-based suggestions in my work and personal life.”