Table 1.
Risk factors for brain degeneration* during ageing
| Factor | Degree of risk |
|---|---|
| Increasing age | Strongest |
| Family history of dementia or depressive illness | High |
| Down’s syndrome | High |
| Head trauma | Moderate |
| Vascular disease | Moderate |
| Apolipoprotein E-ε4 allele | High |
| Smoking | Moderate |
| Illiteracy | High |
| Sedentary lifestyle | Moderate |
| Female gender | Low |
*
Collective evidence indicates these are the most widely accepted degrees of risk for AD as the most common cause of dementia. Other less recognized risk factors include lower head circumference, and shorter leg length.4 Majority of evidence suggests more women succumb to AD whereas it appears the opposite for VaD.