Your Alzheimer’s Risk

Everyone has some risk of developing late onset Alzheimer’s disease. The lifetime risk for the general population is 10-15%. This means that approximately 15 out of 100 people will develop this condition by age 85. Factors that may alter this risk include age, APOE genetic status, family history, gender, and ethnicity.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

• Age. The strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is age. The older a person gets, the greater his or her likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are 65 years old or older.
• Family History. Those who have one or more close family members with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to develop this condition than those without a family history.
• Gender. Women are at greater risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men.
• APOE ε4. The presence of a specific form of the APOE gene, APOE ε4, increases one’s lifetime risk of getting late onset Alzheimer’s disease. Inheriting the APOE ε2 form decreases one’s lifetime risk.
• Ethnicity. Different ethnic groups have different risks to develop Alzheimer’s’ disease.