1. Aging
The biggest risk factor for dementia is aging. This means that, as you get older, your risk of developing this disease goes up a lot. For instance, when it comes to those aged between 65 and 69, about 2 in every 100 people struggle with dementia.
A person’s risk keeps increasing after 65, roughly doubling every five years. In other words, of seniors aged over 90, about 33 in every 100 people struggle with dementia.
The reason why aging is a risk factor for dementia is that the disease can take a long time to develop. Dementia is usually caused by other conditions that damage the brain, such as vascular disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
It can take many years for Alzheimer’s disease or vascular disease to impair cognitive functioning enough to lead to the symptoms of dementia. This basically means that the longer someone lives, the more time dementia has to develop.
Aging is also a significant risk factor for this mental disorder because an older person is more likely to deal with other health conditions that can make them more vulnerable. For instance, health issues that can increase the risk of developing dementia include a weaker immune system, a greater risk of having a stroke, high blood pressure, or blood vessels in the brain that are blocked, twisted, or damaged.
In fact, as we age, we also become more physically frail. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, this can make a person more likely to have problems with their memory and thinking.
