A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. Sometimes, risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of a disease, most do not directly cause the disease itself. Some people with several risk factors never develop amyloidosis, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and communicating them to your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health-care choices.
In most cases of amyloidosis, there are no known risk factors or causes. The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing amyloidosis:
Age. The risk of amyloidosis increases as a person gets older. For primary amyloidosis, the majority of people diagnosed are older than 40.
Gender. Amyloidosis is more common in men than women.
Other diseases. As explained in the Overview, secondary amyloidosis is associated with the presence of a chronic disease. For instance, research indicates that 10% to 15% of people with multiple myeloma also develop amyloidosis.
Family history. Amyloidosis can run in families, possibly due to a genetic mutation that is passed down from generation to generation.
Last Updated: June 30, 2009
