The Risk Factors AND Ways to Prevent Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Disease affects nearly six million people in the United States according to estimates from the CDC, and that makes it the most common of the dementias.  And the number is expected to more than double by 2060.

Alzheimer’s is not a random condition affecting all people equally, and there are even steps each us can take to lower the likelihood that we will be affected by the one way trip to cognitive decline.  Researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and University of Exeter in UK have sifted through data to find 15 risk factors for AD, the clear majority of which arguably could be managed to reduce the incidence of the condition.

Not all risk factors carry the same weight in precipitating the havoc that is AD, and some of them seem intertwined with others; here they are:

(Could be Managed through Lifestyle Choices)

• Educational Degree attained
• Socioeconomic Status attained
• Social engagement
• Alcohol consumption

[Some of these, we could argue, are not within an individual’s control, but getting more education or more appropriate education can give a chance at that better-paying job.  Or seeking help for alcohol over-consumption or engaging others through any number of venues might mitigate the others.]

(Could be managed through Healthstyle Choices)

• Hearing acuity
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Vitamin D Insufficiency
• Depression
• Heart Disease

[There are hearing aids and diet and exercise are too often overlooked as the keys to better health.]

(Could be managed through Medical Intervention)

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Orthostatic Hypotension
• Reduced Handgrip Strength
• High Levels of C-Reactive Protein

[Diet and exercise come back into play here as well along with managing diabetes more closely.]

Finally, a genetic risk that researchers have not yet found a way to address would be the presence of the ApoE gene.  One allele raises the Alzheimer’s risk 2-3 times and two alleles boost it by 10 to 15 times.

So, in all but this last case it pretty much comes down to diet and exercise.  The genetic component alone isn’t quantified by the researchers, but with the rest of the deck stacked in favor or paying better attention to what we eat and keeping our bodies more fit, it looks like there is a lot we can control…or at least be better managers.  Take your ecosystem for a walk to the vegetable section of the store and you’ll be moving in the right direction.

Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago.  She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.