The greatest risk factor for dementia is advanced age. Inheriting the genes associated with Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease is a risk factor. Untreated infectious and metabolic disease and substance abuse also can lead to dementia.
Other risk factors include the following:
- Brain tumor
- Cardiovascular disease (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis)
- Diabetes
- Head injury
- Kidney failure, liver disease, thyroid disease
- Vitamin deficiencies: B12, folic acid, B1 (thiamine)
Physician-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 02 Jan 2000
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 04 Dec 2007
Dementia, Dementia Risk Factors reprinted with permission from neurologychannel.com
© 1998-2010 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
