What Can I Do If I Have a Family Health History of Dementia?
Blue Daily
| 5 min read
In a 2022 national health survey, 4% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 had been diagnosed with a form of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These numbers increased with age–1.7% of adults aged 65-74 and 13/1% of adults aged 85 and older were diagnosed with dementia.
Are you more likely to have dementia if someone in your family has had dementia?
Dementia refers to a group of symptoms caused by diseases, neurological conditions and injuries. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular dementia is commonly caused by a stroke or heart attack. Some types of dementia do not have a genetic deterministic factor. Some types of dementia do have strong genetic factors and follow dominant inheritance patterns, causing a high likelihood of the disease being passed on. The family history of dementia has strong genetic links for certain types of dementia, including:
Alzheimer’s disease
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s genes come in the form of both risk genes and deterministic genes. Risk genes increase the risk of Alzheimer’s while deterministic genes may cause the disease’s development. Both these types of genes can be passed on in families. Individuals with at least one immediate family member with Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease, and the risk increases with each additional family member with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Familial frontotemporal dementia
Familial frontotemporal dementia has a strong genetic factor, with 10-20% of patients having a gene that will always cause the disease if passed on. Any children from someone with this gene will have a 50% chance of having the gene.
Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s disease causes dementia as the disease progresses and has a strong genetic factor as well. Most cases have a genetic link identified, and any parent who has Huntington’s has a 50% chance to pass it on to any children.
Familial prion disease
Familial prion disease occurs in 10-15% of prion disease cases due to a gene mutation. There is a 50% chance that anyone with familial prion disease could pass it on to any children, and a small chance the gene could undergo a new mutation.
Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)
CADASIL is a rare genetic mutation that affects the blood vessels in the brain that can also cause strokes. Some cases occur with no family history, but it does pass on in a dominant inheritance pattern, meaning there is a 50% chance of a parent passing on CADASIL to a child.
If you have a family history of dementia, the first step should be to determine what type of dementia your family experienced. If it is not a type that has one of these strong genetic links, there is little reason to worry about the genetic factors behind dementia.
Can the risk of dementia be lessened even with a family history of dementia?
Not everyone who has dementia in their family history will develop dementia as they age. Environmental and lifestyle factors also contribute to the risk of developing dementia, and individuals may make changes to lower the risk. Aging is the number one risk factor of developing dementia, so making changes to lifestyle and environment earlier in life, if possible, can help reduce the risk of non-genetic dementia.
Lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of dementia
There is no proven cure or preventive treatment for dementia, but there are lifestyle and environmental markers that can raise the risk of developing dementia. Here are a few ways you can lower your risk factors for developing dementia or Alzheimer's:
Control blood pressure
High blood pressure heightens the risk of developing dementia, especially vascular dementia. Making lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure and taking medication as directed can lower the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being obese or overweight increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease, which in turn can raise the risk of developing dementia. Stay physically active and eat a healthy diet to help maintain a healthy weight.
Manage blood sugar
High blood sugar levels can lead to the development of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and dementia. Maintain your blood sugar levels by eating healthy, limiting or ceasing alcohol intake and stopping smoking.
Eat a heart- and brain-healthy diet
Diet contributes to the risk level of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more. Eat a healthy diet, with a broad range of nutrients and low amounts of red meats, processed meats, ultra-processed foods and overly fatty and sugary foods to lower the risk of developing dementia and other diseases.
Get a healthy amount of exercise
Getting the CDC’s recommended 150 minutes weekly of at least moderate intensity exercise can lower many health risks, including the risk of dementia. Exercise also helps maintain healthy weight, healthy blood sugar levels and can lower blood pressure.
Get proper sleep
Getting poor quality sleep or not enough sleep exacerbates many health conditions and increases overall stress levels. Stress increases the risk of developing heart disease and lowers the efficacy of the immune system. Poor sleep habits also decrease cognitive abilities, including memory, focus and decision-making.
