New Research Reveals Early Alzheimer’s Risk Factors Affecting Cognition in Adults as Young as 24

A groundbreaking study conducted by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia Butler Aging Center has uncovered that risk factors and biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease can influence cognitive health decades earlier than previously understood. The research highlights significant links between cognition and Alzheimer’s risk factors starting from ages 24 to 44, emphasizing the critical importance of early intervention and prevention strategies.

This study is notably the first to systematically investigate Alzheimer’s risk factors—including blood biomarkers—in a large cohort of generally healthy middle-aged Americans. The findings, published in The Lancet-Regional Health Americas, extend the understanding of Alzheimer’s progression into early adulthood, previously thought to be relevant only for those over 50.

Expert Allison Aiello explains that these early associations with well-established risk factors such as cardiovascular health, amyloid, tau proteins, neurodegeneration indicators, and immune markers could serve as early warning signs. Blood-based biomarkers, in particular, show promise in predicting long-term cognitive decline long before symptoms appear.

Data analyzed from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health covered participants aged 24 to 44. Researchers utilized in-home interviews, physical exams, cognitive testing, and genetic analysis. The CAIDE score, which evaluates factors like age, education, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, physical activity, and genetic risk (APOE ε4 allele), was used to assess dementia risk.

Results revealed that higher CAIDE scores correlated with poorer cognitive performance even in the 24-34 age group, illustrating that cardiovascular and other risk factors have an impact well before middle age. Additionally, biological markers such as amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration, and immune responses also correlated with cognitive function at this early stage.

Interestingly, genetic risk factors like APOE ε4 did not show effects until later in life, suggesting potential windows for early intervention. Aiello emphasizes that detecting these early biomarkers offers opportunities for preventive strategies across the lifespan to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Co-authors include researchers from UNC Chapel Hill, Columbia’s Aging Center, and Mailman School, underscoring the collaborative effort to understand early Alzheimer’s development.

This research underscores the importance of early detection and lifestyle modifications to mitigate future cognitive decline. There is now a pressing need to incorporate risk assessment and preventive measures in younger populations to curb the rising tide of Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-alzheimer-factors-impact-cognition-adults.html