factors which can lead to Alzheimer's

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are three primary factors that have been identified by researchers which can lead to Alzheimer's.

The first is simply advancing age. Every five years over the age of 65 leads to a rough doubling of your chance of developing the disease. Second is family history. Simply put, if someone directly related to you has Alzheimer's disease, your chances of developing Alzheimer's increases as well. Finally, genetic make-up plays a role as well with select genes, such as apolipoprotein E-e4, being identified as raising the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.

There are other factors which may play a role, but are still being researched. The key suggestion from the Alzheimer's Association to help lower your own potential risk (since many of these are genetic, and thus beyond your control) would be to address issues which regulate your cardiovascular health, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, or heart disease which can lead to poor blood flow to your brain and possibly elevate your risk of developing Alzheimer's.