It is natural for anyone who has a parent with dementia to be concerned about whether they or their children could inherit the condition. The good news is that the majority of dementias are not passed from one generation to another, but it is also essential to understand that there are different types of the condition. For the rarer forms of dementia, there is unfortunately a strong genetic link in a tiny proportion of cases.

Vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the two most common forms of dementia and the two that we know the most about. While these are not hereditary in themselves, some underlying health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be passed on. Some genes that are passed from generation to generation can also increase the risk of developing the disease.

Frontotemporal dementia is a much rarer form of the condition but it can be passed on directly and about 40% of those who develop the condition will have at least one close relative who has been diagnosed with some form of dementia. Other very rare types of dementia that can be inherited include young-onset dementia and Huntington’s disease.

Research shows that there are things that we can all do, particularly those who have a higher genetic risk of developing the disease, to reduce our own risk of dementia. Things such as not smoking or drinking too much alcohol while maintaining a healthy diet and taking regular exercise can all help. Exercising the mind as we get older is also very important as age remains the biggest risk factor in developing dementia.