One of the biggest concerns of many aging adults is their mental wellness. It is not uncommon to experience declining mental acuity as you get older. Regardless of if it is something as simple as losing your keys or more serious issues such as dementia, not feeling in control of your mental health is distressing on many levels. Here are three elements that may predict how likely you are to lose your mental wellness as you age:

Genetic Components

Your family history is one of the biggest clues when looking to determine your risk of developing mental issues as you get older. Some types of mental disorders run in families, indicating a strong genetic predictive component. If you know that you have a history of mental illness in your family, it is important to talk to a health professional so that you can understand your own risk. Knowing the signs to look out for can help you to understand when and how to take action to treat the illness.

Environmental Factors

There are a variety of environmental factors that affect your mental health. Air pollution has been tied to dementia , so city living may be worse for your mental health than rural living. A history of head injury can also be a predictive factor of your chances of developing mental issues. Other risk factors to consider include the quality of your drinking water, exposure to toxins in your childhood, and hazardous work conditions.

Lifestyle Factors

While genetic factors are largely out of your control, you can work to improve the lifestyle factors that contribute to a higher risk of developing mental problems. Some of the most common lifestyle factors that affect your mental health include tobacco and alcohol use, sleep habits and nutrition. For example, a person who does not eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains may not enjoy optimum brain function. Substance abuse is also a risk factor for poor mental health. If you know that you are at risk for developing a mental disorder, abusing alcohol or prescription drugs may end up being the driving force that causes your mental health to suffer.

Research has shown that mental disorders are caused by a wide variety of biological, environmental and genetic factors. Making an effort to understand this correlation and taking steps to protect your mental health as you age will pay off big dividends for your overall well-being.