Beyond Memory: New Dementia Risk Factors Identified
London, UK – December 3, 2025, 17:31:42 GMT – Researchers have expanded understanding of dementia risk, pinpointing two previously unrecognized factors beyond memory loss: imbalances in gut โขbacteria adn elevated โlevels of a specific inflammatory marker in the blood. the โคfindings,published recently,offer potentialโ new avenues for earlyโข detection and preventative interventions against the debilitating condition.
Dementia currently โคaffects over 55 million people globally, a number projected โฃto nearly triple by โ2050, according to โtheโ World Health โขInstitution. While โage andโค genetics remain important contributors,these new discoveries suggest lifestyle and biological factors play a more substantial role than previously understood. Identifying individuals at risk before significant cognitive declineโค sets in is crucial, as emerging therapies mightโ potentially be most effective โin the disease’s early stages.
The study, conducted by researchers at King’s College London, revealed a distinct pattern of gut microbiome dysbiosisโฃ – an imbalance of โmicrobial communities – in individuals who later developed dementia. Specifically, a reduction in beneficial bacteria and an increase โฃin pro-inflammatory species were โobserved years before cognitive โsymptoms emerged.
Concurrently, the researchโค team identified elevated levelsโข of interleukin-6 (IL-6),โข a key inflammatory marker, in โthe โblood of those whoโ went on to receive a dementia diagnosis. chronic inflammation isโ increasingly โคrecognized as a driver of neurodegenerative diseases, and IL-6 appears to be โขa significant contributor.
“These findings suggest that targeting gut health and managing inflammation could becomeโ important strategies in dementia prevention,” explainedโข Dr. Sara Imarisio, lead author of the study. “Further research is needed to determine whether modifying โthe gut microbiome throughโ diet or targeted therapies, or reducing IL-6 โlevels, can delay or prevent the onset of dementia.”
The research involved analyzing data from over 1,000 participants followed for an average of 10 years. Participants underwent regular cognitive assessments, blood tests, and stool sample analysis. The study’s findings are prompting further examination โinto the complex interplay between the gut, inflammation, and brain โคhealth in the advancement of dementia.
