- With Mayo Clinic clinical neuropsychologist
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Glenn Smith is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Smith, a Lincoln, Neb., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1990 and works with neurologists, psychiatrists, internists, social workers and nurses involved in diagnosing and providing care for people with dementia and their families.
"For Alzheimer's disease, there is currently no cure," he says. "The best 'medicine' for patient and family remains education and support. Hopefully, Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's disease Web resources contribute to compassionate care and understanding for Alzheimer's families."
Dr. Smith is a professor of psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and principal investigator of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Education Core. He is past president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.
More answers
- Ginkgo biloba: Can it prevent memory loss?
- Folic acid supplements: Can they slow cognitive decline?
- Phosphatidylserine supplements: Can they improve memory?
- Sundowning: Late-day confusion
- Alzheimer's nose spray: New Alzheimer's treatment?
- Vitamin B-12: Can it improve memory in Alzheimer's?
- Phantosmia: What causes olfactory hallucinations?
- Antipsychotic drugs: Can they help people with Alzheimer's?
- High cholesterol: Does it increase my risk of Alzheimer's?
- Rapid-onset Alzheimer's: Could it be something else?
- Oophorectomy (ovary removal): A risk factor for dementia?
- see all
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Alzheimer's: Can a head injury increase my risk?
Can a head injury cause or hasten Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia?
Answer
from Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
It depends on your age at the time of your head injury, the severity of the head injury and possibly your genetic makeup.
Keep in mind that brain damage from a head injury itself is a potential cause of dementia. Dementia is present when there is a decline in two or more thinking skills — such as memory and reasoning — resulting in a person being unable to perform his or her normal, daily activities. However, dementia caused by a head injury typically is a stable condition, meaning it doesn't worsen over time.
In terms of progressive dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, an overview of research suggests that head injuries early in life — such as before age 50 — do not significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life. But head injuries later in life may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in part by hastening the onset or awareness of symptoms. Also, emerging evidence suggests that certain genes — such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene — can increase or decrease your risk of Alzheimer's after a head injury.
Next question
