Risk Factors

Risk factors are certain traits, behaviors, or exposures to things that may increase the chance of developing a disease.

Alzheimer's, like any disease, has certain elements that increase the chances of being affected by it.

Ethnicity: Alzheimer's clearly affects all races. However, the risk for Latinos in developing Alzheimer's is two times greater than the risk of whites. Native Americans and Asians tend to have the lowest risk.

Age: The risk of Alzheimer's increases with age. It is estimated that of people over age 85, 50% have Alzheimer's.

Gender: Women have a higher risk than men in developing Alzheimer's.

Genes: People with a family history of Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease. Those who have one parent with the disease are one and a half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's. People whose parents are both affected by Alzheimer's are five times more likely to develop it themselves.

Diet: People who have a diet high in saturated and trans fat are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's.

Education: it has been shown that people with a higher level of education have a lower chance of developing the disease.

Relationships: Those people that have never been married tend to show a higher risk of being affected by Alzheimer's.

Alcohol/Tobacco: A mild to moderate intake of both substances have been shown to neither increase nor decrease a person's risk of Alzheimer's. However, some believe they can be protective in guarding against the disease. On the other hand, a heavy use of either alcohol or tobacco have shown to increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's.