Risk Factors

• A specific change in a gene, called apolipoprotein E (APOE), which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Low levels of physical, social and mental activity
• Fewer years of education

Complications

People with mild cognitive impairment are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's or other dementias than are those without such impairment. In fact, about half the people with mild cognitive impairment progress to Alzheimer's disease within five years.

What Increases Your Risk

Aging is the main risk factor for all types of dementia. Some diseases that cause dementia (such as early-onset Alzheimer's disease and some frontotemporal dementias) may run in families.
You have a greater chance of developing vascular dementia if you:

• Are male.
• Have high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Have had a heart attack.
• Have atherosclerosis, a buildup of fat and calcium in the arteries, which can lead to coronary artery disease.
• Have diabetes.
• Have high cholesterol.
• Have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Having a high level of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an amino acid normally found in small amounts in the blood. High levels of homocysteine are thought to cause plaque to build up in the blood vessels. Over time, this may lead to mental decline. Homocysteine levels are generally stable until age 40 but then begin to increase naturally, especially after age 70.4