Overview

• A groundbreaking study published in *The Lancet Regional Health–Americas* links Alzheimer’s risk factors to cognitive differences in adults aged 24–44.
• Higher CAIDE scores, reflecting cardiovascular and lifestyle factors, are associated with poorer memory and cognitive performance in young adults.
• ATN biomarkers (amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration) and inflammatory markers show significant associations with cognition before midlife, while the APOE ε4 gene shows no early impact.
• The findings suggest Alzheimer’s disease pathways may begin decades earlier than previously thought, highlighting the importance of early prevention strategies.
• Researchers analyzed longitudinal data from the Add Health study, tracking participants from ages 24–34 to 34–44, to uncover these early cognitive risk patterns.