If you are experiencing some of the above symptoms, it helps to consider your age and risk factors for Alzheimer’s. 

There is no single cause of dementia. Instead, there are many different factors that may contribute to developing it, including:

• Age:This is the best-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. As age increases, the likelihood of developing dementia increases. Most people with Alzheimer’s dementia are 65 or older.
• Sex:Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia than men. Researchers think this could be related to women living longer than men, but they’re investigating other sex-related factors.
• Family history: If you have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s dementia, you are more likely to develop. Studies show that at your existing risk increases by about 30% if you have a close relative with the condition. If more than one family member develops it, the risk is even greater.
• Genetics: Experts have identified some genes that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and some, though rare, that can directly cause it. It is recommended that you speak to your provider and a genetic counselor before considering taking them.
• History of head injury:There is a link between moderate to severe head injuries and Alzheimer’s dementia. Moderate head injuries are defined as those that cause loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes. Severe head injuries cause loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours.

Certain health and behaviors are associated with the disease, too. These include:

• High blood pressure:Having elevated blood pressure can affect the blood vessels in the brain, which can increase the risk of developing dementia. 
• High cholesterol: Havingelevated cholesterol levels also affects blood vessels in the brain, increasing the chances of developing dementia. 
• Type 2 diabetes:While it’s not fully understood why Type 2 diabetes increases dementia risk, there is a clear association between the two. 
• Depression: Studies have shown that major depressive disorder, if diagnosed before the age of 60a increase the risk of There may be an association with depression diagnosed at a later age, but more research is needed.

Smoking: Smoking may increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s for a number of different reasons. One reason is that it increases the production of molecules known as free radicals, which can damage brain cells.