Alzheimer's Disease - What Increases Your Risk
The main factor that raises your risk for Alzheimer's disease is getting older. About 6 out of 100 people over 65 years and 35 out of 100 people over 85 years have some form of dementia.1 People rarely have dementia before age 60. Other factors that increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease include:
- A family history of Alzheimer's disease, especially if one or more of your parents or siblings has the disease.
- The presence of the apolipoprotein E-4 gene, which increases the chances you will develop Alzheimer's disease.
- Having Down syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that results in intellectual disability.
- Having diabetes, which is a condition that causes high blood sugar.
- A history of depression.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
November 09, 2010
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