Health Information
Dementia
What Increases Your Risk
Aging is the main risk factor for all types of dementia. Some diseases that cause dementia (such as early-onset Reference Alzheimer's disease Opens New Window and some Reference frontotemporal dementias Opens New Window) may run in families.
You have a greater chance of developing Reference vascular dementia Opens New Window if you:
- Are male.
- Have high blood pressure.
- Have had a heart attack.
- Have Reference atherosclerosis Opens New Window, a buildup of fat and calcium in the arteries, which can lead to Reference coronary artery disease Opens New Window.
- Have diabetes.
- Have high cholesterol.
- Have had a stroke or Reference transient ischemic attack (TIA) Opens New Window.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference August 11, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Peter J. Whitehouse, MD - Neurology |
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