Those that suffered from depression, or taking anticholinergic drugs were more likely to go on to develop dementia.

It was also discovered that men and women have different risk factors. Men who have had a stroke were almost three times more likely to progress to dementia. Women who suffered from depression were two times as likely to get dementia.

Not all the people in the study went on to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There was a small percentage that recovered to normal cognitive ability.