6 factors that could increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease affects nearly 5 million Americans, a number that's expected to balloon to 13.8 million by 2050.

In its mildest form, the neurodegenerative condition is characterized by symptoms including memory lapses, getting lost, repeating questions, and misplacing things - behaviors that generally get more severe over time.

There's still a lot we don't know about the causes of Alzheimer's, but there are some factors associated with an increased risk of getting the disease. (For the most part, though, an increased risk doesn't mean a person will necessarily get the disease -just that the chances are higher.)

Here's what the science has to say about the factors that influence your risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline.