Possible Risk Factors For Alzheimer’s

 Researchers haven't yet proven a link between Alzheimer's and the following factors, but they suspect these factors may play a role in your risk of the disease:

• Environment
  Researchers are studying a variety of environmental factors as possible causes of and ways to prevent Alzheimer's. For example, the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer's often shows traces of aluminum and zinc. Researchers are trying to determine if exposure to these and other types of metals are a cause or an effect of the disease.
• Ethnicity
  Growing evidence indicates older blacks of African-American descent may be at greater risk of dementia due to a higher incidence of vascular dementia which is linked to high blood pressure. Vascular dementia is caused by blood vessels to the brain becoming narrowed or blocked.
• Mental Fitness
  Doctors agree that maintaining good mental and physical health can enhance your quality of life. However, no research has proven that staying mentally or physically fit will prevent or alter your risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Other risk factors for which there is conflicting evidence and need for additional research include severe head trauma, certain virus infections, family history of Down syndrome, thyroid disease, and smoking.

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