Risk factors for dementia

There is little doubt that dementia is a very common cause of disability and dependency in our society. Since dementia of whatever type is usually more common with increasing age, then as population demographics change, so will the prevalence of dementia. Dementia is a generic term and the objective for clinicians, once dementia is suspected, is to attempt to define the cause. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and in most centres vascular dementia would feature as the next most common aetiology. In some centres, Lewy body dementia is the second most common cause. Mixed Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia would also feature high on the list at most centres. This article will focus on risk factors for dementia and will concentrate only on Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The risk factors for these will be discussed, and, since there have been significant advances in our understanding of the genetic component of Alzheimer’s disease in particular, there is a separate section on genetic contribution.