Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia That Are Not Under Your Control

Abstract Chapter 12 discusses the various risk factors for MCI and dementia that are out of our control. The first is age, where the older we are, the more likely we are to develop either condition—yet it is emphasized that age itself does not cause MCI or dementia, but rather advanced age is associated with other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol that increase risk for these conditions. Sex differences in MCI prevalence are then discussed, with more men than women diagnosed with MCI. This section also describes sex differences in the risk factors for MCI. The third nonmodifiable risk factor discussed is genetics. This section describes the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease (both its familial and sporadic variants), vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia due to Parkinson’s or Lewy body disease. Brain injury, whether due to trauma or stroke, is the fourth risk factor discussed. Years of formal education obtained in young life is also included in this chapter, as one of the strongest predictors of MCI or dementia is early life education. How higher education might protect people from MCI and dementia is discussed. The last risk factor for MCI or dementia discussed is knowing more than one language for most of our lives, given the evidence of bi- or multilingualism on reducing the risk of MCI and dementia.