Current knowledge on the risk factors for dementia

Dementia is a syndrome that is characterized by memory loss, accompanied by a deficit in at least one other cognitive domain (i.e., aphasia, apraxia, agnosia or impairment of executive function). Age is the principal risk factor for dementia ; other risk factors include cardiovascular factors, health behaviours, and psychosocial factors such as education. However, this area of research is characterized by inconsistent findings and failed clinical trials. This article attempts to provide an explanation for these inconsistencies by highlighting the long incubation period of dementia and propose a framework for research.