Notably, women with metabolic syndrome exhibited a 34% higher risk of early-onset dementia compared to 15% for men, while individuals in their 40s were at a greater risk than those in their 50s.

Conducted by Dr. Minwoo Lee and funded by the Korean National Research Foundation, the findings of this study will be published in the journal Neurology.

Dr. Lee highlighted the societal implications of young-onset dementia, as it affects individuals during their working years.

Currently, nearly 8 million Americans live with some form of dementia, with Alzheimer's disease being the most prevalent, affecting approximately 7 million, and projections suggest this number could rise to nearly 13 million by 2050.

The prevalence of dementia is expected to increase significantly, with an estimated 1.03 million new cases projected by 2060, up from 514,000 in 2020.

A recent South Korean study has revealed a significant link between metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of dementia, showing a 24% overall increase in risk, with specific increases of 12% for Alzheimer's disease and 21% for vascular dementia.

The research, which analyzed health records of 2 million individuals aged 40 to 60, found that 25% of participants had metabolic syndrome, and nearly 9,000 developed dementia before the age of 65 during an eight-year follow-up.

While there is currently no cure for dementia, adopting lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management may help prevent metabolic syndrome and reduce the risk of young-onset dementia.

Existing health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes are linked to dementia, potentially due to arterial plaque buildup that affects brain cell health.

The study emphasizes the importance of managing cardiovascular and metabolic health during midlife to potentially mitigate the risk of early cognitive decline.

Dr. Lee also stressed the need for further research with longer follow-up periods and brain scans to better understand the relationship between metabolic syndrome and dementia.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by excess belly fat along with two or more risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol.