What are the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease?

Age, genetic, and serious head injuries are all risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Every 5 years after 65 years of age your risk for Alzheimer's disease doubles. Learn more from Dr. Randy P. Martin about Alzheimer's disease.

Transcript

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We do know that there are certain genes, so-called APOE4, that indicate that you might have an increased risk

00:06

for Alzheimer's. But I want to stress this. It doesn't mean, if you have those genes, that you're necessarily gonna develop it.

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Many of us are worried about developing Alzheimer's or have loved ones who have it. So knowing what the risk factors are is a common question.

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The number-one risk factor is age. There's no doubt, as we age, our risk of developing it do increase. In fact, every five years over the age of 65

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your risk really doubles. And at age 85, 1 in 2 of us are gonna have Alzheimer's. So aging is really a big risk.

00:45

The second risk is really genetics. If you have a close relative, sibling, your parents, both parents had it, then you are at increased risk.

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And when you think about genetics, a lot of interest now in genetic testing. And we do know that there are certain genes, so-called APOE4,

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that indicate that you might have an increased risk for Alzheimer's. But I want to stress this. It doesn't mean, if you have those genes,

01:10

that you're necessarily gonna develop it. It's really age and, to some extent, genetics. Another interesting fact is that there's been a lot of interest

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recently in serious head injuries causing you to have Alzheimer's. So protecting yourself throughout your lifetime

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from serious head injuries, especially as you get older, is very important. And then things that are good for your heart are also good

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for your brain and will help to protect you from developing Alzheimer's. So things like not smoking, not being overweight,

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not having no exercise-- in other words, you need to exercise regularly-- eating the right type of diet,

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avoiding excessive alcohol, those things are going to help to protect your brain from having strokes and, actually, from developing Alzheimer's.

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There are other good things that you can do to protect your brain. Stay socially engaged. Have a lot of friends, a lot of interests.

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Exercise your mind with things like constantly learning. All of those are very good things

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and will help to protect us from developing Alzheimer's as we age. [AUDIO LOGO]