Dementia is passed down in the family
Directly inheriting a single gene that causes dementia is extremely rare. In a small number of cases, there is a genetic link – but these are only a tiny proportion of overall cases, and most cases of dementia are not passed down.
There are some genes that can increase the overall risk of having dementia. But there are also lifestyle changes a person can make to lower their risk.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same thing
The word ‘dementia’ is the umbrella term used to describe the symptoms caused by diseases damaging the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, responsible for around two thirds of cases in the UK. Other causes of dementia include vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
You can’t get dementia if you’re young
It’s true that the biggest risk factor for dementia is
