Ave Kivisild, Iina Rinnankoski, Mikko Aaltonen, Kalle Aho, Sami Heikkinen, Adolfina Lehtonen, Laura Leppänen, Helmi Soppela, Laura Tervonen, Kaijus Ervasti, Päivi Hartikainen, Annakaisa Haapasalo, Kasper Katisko, Johanna Krüger, Eino Solje
{"title":"Sociodemographic traits as early indicators of AD, FTD, and VaD up to 10 years before diagnosis","authors":"Ave Kivisild, Iina Rinnankoski, Mikko Aaltonen, Kalle Aho, Sami Heikkinen, Adolfina Lehtonen, Laura Leppänen, Helmi Soppela, Laura Tervonen, Kaijus Ervasti, Päivi Hartikainen, Annakaisa Haapasalo, Kasper Katisko, Johanna Krüger, Eino Solje","doi":"10.1002/alz.70616","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> INTRODUCTION</h3>\n \n <p>We aimed to investigate early differences in sociodemographic factors before the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), vascular dementia (VaD), and mixed dementia (AD + VaD).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> METHODS</h3>\n \n <p>Lifetime sociodemographic factors were collected from Statistics Finland for 1238 AD, 274 FTD, 343 VaD, and 402 AD + VaD patients with a diagnosis and visit at Kuopio and Oulu University Hospitals between January 2010 and December 2021. Comparisons were performed between dementia groups and matched controls.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> RESULTS</h3>\n \n <p>All patient groups showed decreased employment status compared to controls already 10 years prior to diagnosis. In particular, individuals with early-onset FTD (EOFTD; 66.9% vs. 77.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and early-onset VaD (EOVaD; 49.0% vs. 76.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) had significantly lower employment rates than controls. Similarly, 10 years prior to diagnosis the proportion of married individuals was lower in the VaD (60.1% vs. 65.2%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and EOVaD (50.0% vs. 61.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) groups versus controls, while single status was more common in early-onset AD (EOAD; 23.2% vs. 17.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.01) versus controls. Patients with VaD and AD + VaD had lower levels of education than controls: basic education only in 51.9% of VaD (vs. 45.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and 65.7% of AD + VaD (vs. 60.2%, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> DISCUSSION</h3>\n \n <p>Our findings may aid in the early recognition or potential risk factor evaluation for different types of dementia. Screening cognitive symptoms in individuals with unexplained long-term unemployment may help detect prodromal dementia.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Highlights</h3>\n \n <div>\n <ul>\n \n <li>Employment rates were already reduced 10 years before the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia.</li>\n \n <li>The association between education level and dementia risk appears to be subtype specific.</li>\n \n <li>Lower employment may serve as an early “social marker” of subtle cognitive decline.</li>\n \n <li>Social markers could help inform models predicting progression to cognitive impairment.</li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":7471,"journal":{"name":"Alzheimer's & Dementia","volume":"21 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/alz.70616","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Alzheimer's & Dementia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70616","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
We aimed to investigate early differences in sociodemographic factors before the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), vascular dementia (VaD), and mixed dementia (AD + VaD).
METHODS
Lifetime sociodemographic factors were collected from Statistics Finland for 1238 AD, 274 FTD, 343 VaD, and 402 AD + VaD patients with a diagnosis and visit at Kuopio and Oulu University Hospitals between January 2010 and December 2021. Comparisons were performed between dementia groups and matched controls.
RESULTS
All patient groups showed decreased employment status compared to controls already 10 years prior to diagnosis. In particular, individuals with early-onset FTD (EOFTD; 66.9% vs. 77.6%, p < 0.01) and early-onset VaD (EOVaD; 49.0% vs. 76.5%, p < 0.001) had significantly lower employment rates than controls. Similarly, 10 years prior to diagnosis the proportion of married individuals was lower in the VaD (60.1% vs. 65.2%, p < 0.05) and EOVaD (50.0% vs. 61.6%, p < 0.05) groups versus controls, while single status was more common in early-onset AD (EOAD; 23.2% vs. 17.0%, p < 0.01) versus controls. Patients with VaD and AD + VaD had lower levels of education than controls: basic education only in 51.9% of VaD (vs. 45.0%, p < 0.05) and 65.7% of AD + VaD (vs. 60.2%, p < 0.05).
DISCUSSION
Our findings may aid in the early recognition or potential risk factor evaluation for different types of dementia. Screening cognitive symptoms in individuals with unexplained long-term unemployment may help detect prodromal dementia.
Highlights
Employment rates were already reduced 10 years before the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia.
The association between education level and dementia risk appears to be subtype specific.
Lower employment may serve as an early “social marker” of subtle cognitive decline.
Social markers could help inform models predicting progression to cognitive impairment.
期刊介绍:
Alzheimer's & Dementia is a peer-reviewed journal that aims to bridge knowledge gaps in dementia research by covering the entire spectrum, from basic science to clinical trials to social and behavioral investigations. It provides a platform for rapid communication of new findings and ideas, optimal translation of research into practical applications, increasing knowledge across diverse disciplines for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention, and identifying promising new research directions. In July 2008, Alzheimer's & Dementia was accepted for indexing by MEDLINE, recognizing its scientific merit and contribution to Alzheimer's research.