05/05/2026
Risk factors for dementia
Risk factors we cannot change
Age: The risk increases as people get older, especially after 65. However, dementia can also affect younger people.
Family history and genetics: Having a close family member with dementia may increase risk, but it does not mean a person will definitely develop dementia.
S*x and gender: Some types of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, affects women more due to longer life expectancy andother biological and social factors.
Risk factors we may be able to reduce
High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and heart disease increase dementia risk because the brain depends on healthy blood vessels and stable oxygen supply.
Smoking damages blood vessels, reduces oxygen flow, and increases inflammation.
Excessive alcohol use can damage brain cells directly and can also worsen nutrition, sleep, mood, and safety.
Physical inactivity increases risk indirectly by worsening heart health, weight, blood pressure, diabetes, and mood.
Poor diet may contribute to vascular disease, inflammation, and poor metabolic health.
Depression, loneliness, and social isolation are associated with higher dementia risk and can also worsen memory and functioning in people already living with cognitive decline.
Hearing loss is an important risk factor because reduced hearing can increase isolation, cognitive load, and reduced brain stimulation.
Low cognitive stimulation or limited education opportunities may reduce “cognitive reserve,” which is the brain’s ability to cope with disease changes before symptoms become obvious.
Head injury increases risk, especially repeated or severe head trauma.
Sleep problems may affect brain health, mood, and memory, and poor sleep can worsen confusion in older adults.
Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a dementia risk factor. Evidence links long-term exposure to pollutants such as fine particulate matter with higher dementia risk, though reducing this risk often requires public health and environmental action, not only individual choices.
Early diagnosis matters because some conditions that look like dementia can be treated, and for progressive dementia, early support helps families plan care with dignity, safety, and compassion.
