Dementia risk prediction: are we there yet?

The term dementia refers to memory impairment and loss of other intellectual abilities, which interfere with normal daily activities. Alzheimer disease is a type of dementia that accounts for 50% to 70% of dementia cases. Although the precise reason behind dementia is unknown, there are several risk factors that increase the risk for the development for dementia and several protective factors that may protect against the development of dementia. This article reviews potential risk factors and protective factors for the development of dementia, and in particular Alzheimer disease, and discusses the challenges in developing a dementia risk index.