As you age, you may be concerned about the risk of dementia. To help you understand your risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease, ask yourself the following five questions:
- How old am I? Age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. While the risk of Alzheimer’s increases as you age, dementia is not a normal part of aging.
- Does Alzheimer’s run in my family? If you have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s, you may have a higher risk of a diagnosis than someone who doesn’t. However, not everyone with a family history of Alzheimer’s will develop the disease and vice versa.
- What’s my lifestyle? There may be ways to promote better brain health and reduce your risk by living a healthier lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet and keeping physically active.
- What medical conditions do I have? Having certain medical conditions, like heart disease and hearing loss may increase your risk. Getting recommended health screenings and regularly checking in with a health care provider can help you manage medical conditions.
- What about biomarkers? Testing for biomarkers can provide some information about your risk, but these tests can’t tell for certain if you’ll develop the disease. Right now, many of these tests are used mostly in research settings or to help doctors in diagnosing the disease.
Scientists are still learning about what causes Alzheimer’s and what puts some people at higher risk than others. Learn more about understanding risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s.
