Risk factors
Vascular dementia
In this section:
A risk factor is something that affects our chances of developing a condition like dementia.
Most cases of dementia are caused by a mixture of risk factors including our:
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age
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genes
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health
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lifestyle
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and environment
A risk factor is something that affects our chances of developing a condition like dementia.
Most cases of dementia are caused by a mixture of risk factors including our:
- age
- genes
- health
- lifestyle
- and environment.
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Factors that increase vascular dementia risk do so by increasing the likelihood of blood vessel diseases or damage.
Some of these we can’t change, like our age or genes.
But research suggests that almost half of dementia cases worldwide are linked to risk factors we may be able to influence.
So, there are steps we can take to protect our brain health.
What is the biggest risk factor for dementia?
The biggest risk factor for vascular dementia is age, followed by high blood pressure.
The older we get, the more likely we are to develop the condition. This is because our arteries get stiffer and narrower as we get older.
Nine in every 10 people with vascular dementia are over 65 years old.
Long-term untreated high blood pressure can also damage our arteries. This damage makes us more likely to develop vascular dementia.
Having a stroke also increases your risk of developing vascular dementia. Risk factors that make a stroke more likely are the same as those for vascular dementia.
Is vascular dementia inherited?
For most people, vascular dementia is not directly inherited. But some risk factors for vascular dementia may run in families.
These include:
Some ethnic groups, such as Black African and Caribbean and South Asian communities, are more likely to have conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Inheriting these conditions may increase the risk of developing vascular dementia. But they don’t mean that someone will definitely develop the condition.
In some very rare cases people may inherit a faulty gene, which can directly cause vascular dementia. One example of this is a disorder that causes blood vessel walls to thicken, blocking blood flow to areas of the brain. This condition, called CADASIL, only affects around 1,000 people in the UK.
If you are concerned about rare inherited forms of vascular dementia, you can talk to your GP.
Can I reduce my risk of vascular dementia?
It’s important to take control over risk factors that we can influence.
A healthy lifestyle and managing health conditions like high blood pressure protects our brain health and reduces our risk of vascular dementia, stroke and other underlying conditions that can lead to them.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in your forties and fifties seems to be particularly important for helping to lower your risk of dementia .
This includes staying physically, mentally and socially active. But it’s never too early or too late to take steps to improve your brain health.
Some early research also suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle may be able to manage symptoms and slow down the progression of early-stage vascular dementia.
More research is needed to confirm this. But taking steps will help to reduce your risk of any further strokes or blood vessel damage.
For a healthy brain:
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Ask your doctor to check your heart health, including blood pressure and cholesterol and follow their advice if they are too high.
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Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
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Keep using your brain - through activities or social groups you enjoy.
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Don't smoke.
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If you have Type 2 diabetes, keep to your doctor's advice.
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Stay connected to the world and people around you.
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Stay active and try not to spend too long sitting down.
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Drink less than 14 units of alcohol per week.
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Keep your weight healthy.
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Get your hearing and eyesight checked regularly and follow any treatment if prescribed.
Downloads
Dementia information
The information in this booklet is for anyone who wants to know more about vascular dementia, including people living with vascular dementia, their carers, families and friends.
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PDF, 753 KB, 15 pages
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This information was updated in December 2025 and is due to be reviewed in December 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
