Fact 4: Age – The Common Risk Factor
Age is the most significant risk factor for both Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia. The likelihood of developing either condition increases dramatically past the age of 65. However, it’s essential to emphasize that neither is a standard part of aging. Both are specific diseases with identifiable causes and effects.
In addition to age, both conditions share other common risk factors. These include a family history of dementia, specific genetic variants, and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity, poor diet, and smoking, also play a role in the risk of developing both Alzheimer’s and VaD.
Despite these shared risk factors, Alzheimer’s and VaD also have unique contributors. For instance, the presence of the ApoE-e4 gene variant is known to increase Alzheimer’s risk, while having had a stroke significantly raises the risk of developing VaD. (4)
