Heavy teen drinking linked to dementia

Heavy drinking and drug use in teenage years may boost your chances of developing dementia before the age of 65, Swedish researchers said Tuesday. Alcohol abuse emerged as the strongest of 9 risk factors that could be traced as far back as adolescence, according to a study of 488,484 Swedish men conscripted for military service between September 1969 and December 1979 at an average age of 18. In the 37 years following their conscription, 487 of the men were diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD) at a median age of 54 years. 68 percent of the YOD cases identified could be attributed to one or more of the 9 factors. Other risk factors the team identified included a stroke, drug use, depression, having a father with dementia, a short stature, and high blood pressure.

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