stage: 1

Dementia and family history — what the genetic risk actually looks like

Sometimes it does, but not always. Some types of dementia have a stronger genetic link than others, and having a family member with dementia can raise risk in some cases. That does not mean the condition is certain to develop. Age, health, lifestyle, and other medical factors also matter. For many people, family history is only one part of the picture. If there is a strong pattern of early dementia in a family, medical advice may be useful.