No. Genetic factors play a large role in the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are also a number of lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, physical activity) that may influence the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
The gene with the strongest impact on Alzheimer’s risk is the APOE gene. Of the three most common APOE variants, APOE-e4 is most strongly associated with the disease. Around 40-65% of Alzheimer’s sufferers have one or two copies of the APOE-e4 gene. Inheriting two copies, one from each parent, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Other factors that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.