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Here are four common non-modifiable risk factors of disease that have been associated to the development of dementia:
Age
The greatest risk factor for dementia is age. Although age increases risk, dementia is not a normal part of ageing, and ageing is not itself a cause of dementia.
Genetics
Understanding Dementia by Dr. Joshua Kua
Source: Agency for Integrated Care
Watch Dr Joshua Kua, a Geriatric Psychiatrist, answer whether dementia runs in the family.
Gender
Ethnicity
In a 2008 study investigating the prevalence of dementia in Singapore, Malays were found to have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease than Chinese, while Indians had more than twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia than Chinese. The reasons for this ethnic difference require further investigation.
Some content is reproduced with permission from Alzheimer’s Disease International’s article on Risk Factors and Risk Reduction.
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- Sahadevan, S., Saw, S. M., Gao, W., Tan, L. C., Chin, J. J., Hong, C. Y., & Venketasubramanian, N. (2008). Ethnic differences in Singapore’s dementia prevalence: The stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and dementia in Singapore study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(11), 2061-2068. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01992.x.