"Life begins at 40" is an adage that we are familiar with. However, a recent study may give this saying a twist, as it has now been established that dementia has become prevalent in people who belong to this age bracket. Dementia is the persistent disorder in the mental processes brought about by a disease or injury in the brain.
The study, which compared 21 Western countries from 1989 to 2010, appeared in the Surgical Neurology International. Its findings were publicized in the London Times. Colin Pritchard of the Bournemouth University led the team which conducted the study. A summary of their findings tells us that:
- Neurological disorders, which include dementias, are starting 10 years earlier than it was 20 years ago. The early onset of the disease used to cover people who are in their late 60s.
- More people who are in their 40s and 50s are becoming affected.
- There was a noticeable increase in neurological deaths in people up to the age of 74.
- More people are having neurological disorders than ever before.
- Death among men who are over 75 have nearly tripled in the past 20 years.
- Death of women have gone up more than 5 times.
- For the first time, more women who are 75 years old and above are dying due to brain disease than cancer.
The study also reveals that while the deaths may have been brought about at such ages by diseases that have developed in these people, the increase and speed of mortality in just 20 years have been greatly influenced by our environment. Here are some of the factors:
- Roads and air transport have quadrupled in the past 20 years with an increase in air pollution, thus exposing us to a wide range of noxious or harmful substances.
- With the frequent use of technological devices, our background radiation have increased too.
- Organophosphates, especially from pesticides, can be found in our food chain.
"The rate of increase in such a short time suggested a silent or even a hidden epidemic, in which environmental factors must play a major part, not just aging," Pritchard explained. He said there is no single factor to blame because the disease is brought by the interaction between different chemicals and the varying types of pollution.
The scientist, however, made it clear that there is no need to put an end to modern advances. Instead, they should just be made safer and more life-friendly.
