An adult child brings a parent in to be evaluated and is told the client has Alzheimer disease. The adult child asks the nurse if all the children of the client are going to get the disease. Which risk factors will the nurse include when responding to the

Question

Select all that apply.
A) Genetic predisposition
B) Age
C) History of hypertension
D) Race
E) Environmental exposure

Answer 1

Answer: A, B, E

Growing older is the greatest risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease. The combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors also affects the risk. Some genetic mutations on specific chromosomes have been shown to cause Alzheimer disease, but these genes account for less than 5% of all cases of Alzheimer disease. There is no indication that race or hypertension plays a role in the development of Alzheimer disease.