If both your parents have dementia, you might be wondering about your own risk of developing it by age 70. While having parents with dementia does increase your chances, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll get it too.
Dementia isn’t usually directly inherited from parents to children. Most cases don’t have a clear genetic cause. However, certain genes can raise your risk. The most well-known is the APOE gene, especially a version called APOE4. If you inherit this gene from both parents, your risk goes up, but it’s still not certain you’ll develop dementia.
For most people, the chance of having dementia by age 70 is relatively low – around 3%. If both your parents have dementia, your risk might be two to four times higher than average. But that still means most people in this situation won’t have dementia by 70.
It’s important to remember that genetics is just one piece of the puzzle. Your lifestyle choices play a big role too. Things like staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and keeping your mind engaged can help lower your risk, even if you have a family history of dementia.
Some rare forms of early-onset Alzheimer’s, which starts before age 65, are more strongly linked to genetics. But these account for a very small percentage of all dementia cases.
If you’re worried, talk to your doctor. They can assess your individual risk factors and suggest ways to keep your brain healthy. Remember, having a higher risk doesn’t mean dementia is inevitable. Many people with a family history of dementia never develop it themselves.
