Am I At Risk Of Getting Dementia?

Are you over 65?

Are you South Asian, African or African-Caribbean origin?

Are you a smoker (you smoke for a long time)?

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle with no time for regular exercise?

Do you eat a poor diet that contains too much saturated fats (fatty meat, processed meat, pastries and pies, butter, milk, full fat dairy products), too much salt and sugar?

Do you drink more than 2 drinks a day if you are a man or more than 1 drink a day if you are a woman, or do you often drink excessive amounts of alcohol?

Do you have high blood pressure?

Have you been diagnosed with atherosclerosis?

Do you have high level of blood cholesterol (high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called "bad" form of cholesterol)?

Do you have diagnosed diabetes?

Did you have a head injury like a strong blow to the head that knocked you out?

Do you have periods of depression?

Do you have a family history of dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, or fatal familial insomnia?

Do you have a diagnosis of any of the following conditions: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

Based on your answers you have a low risk for dementia. Dementia represents a group of symptoms related to memory problems, impaired thinking and communications that highly affects a person’s life. As they get older, people tend to forget things, but this small memory loss does not interfere with their daily routine. Dementia is not a normal part of aging and there is a lot you can do to reduce your chances of developing it. It is never too early to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Regular mental activity during life seems to reduce the risk of dementia, so find something pleasant that stimulates your mind and do it regularly.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk for dementia. Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that develops due to abnormal brain changes. It is characterized by various memory problems that affect the quality of your life. The risk of dementia increases with age and it is often a concern in those who already have a close relative with dementia. Still, having any of the risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will develop dementia in the future. There are some risk factors that are impossible to control such as your age or genetic, but others we can change by making certain lifestyle choices.

Based on your answers you have a high risk for dementia. Dementia represents a loss of mental skills, problems with memory, thinking and social abilities. The risk of dementia increases with age, but that does not mean that everyone will get it at some point in their lives. Managing your health problems can reduce your risk of dementia, so if you live with some long-term health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease it is very important to keep them under control. Please see your doctor for the assessment of your risk factors and follow your doctor’s advice about taking medicines and lifestyle changes.