The prostate gland is a part of the reproductive system, and it is located under the bladder. Prostate cancer commonly occurs later in life, and its progress is generally slow. However, sometimes it may spread faster and affect other parts of the body. Read on to know more about the top risk factors for prostate cancer. 

• Age
  One of the leading risk factors for prostate cancer is age. It is very rare in young people. The disease is prevalent in men over the age of 65. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, only one in 10,000 people in the country are prone to developing the disease if they below 40 years of age. However, for people aged between 40 to 59, the number is one in every 38. For people aged between 60 to 69, the number becomes even higher, which is one in 14.  
• Family history
  Prostate cancer occurs due to a mutation of DNA, which makes it an inheritable disease. If your family has a history of prostate cancer, the chances of you developing it increase significantly. The American Cancer Society informs that up to 10% of prostate cancer cases occur due to family history. The disease is a result of mutations of a number of genes, including RNASEL, HOXB13, MSH2, MLH1, BRCA1, BRCA2.
• Ethnicity and race
  Ethnicity and race play a vital role in the development of prostate cancer. The reason behind this is still not apparent, but African-Americans are at the highest risk of developing this disease. Compared to the men from other ethnicities, the diagnosis of the disease comes later for the African-Americans. The mortality rate is higher among this ethnicity. The cases of prostate cancer are lowest among Latino men and Asian-Americans .
• Geography
  Geographical location is one of the top risk factors for prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society says that the highest number of cases occur in North America. Moreover, prostate cancer is common in the Caribbean, Australia, north-western Europe, Africa, and South America. The number of prostate cancer patients is lowest in Asian men. The reasons behind geography as a risk factor might be cultural practices and the environment. Americans living north of 40 degrees latitude also have a higher risk of prostate cancer mortality than the people living in the south. This may be a result of vitamin D deficiency due to lower sunlight levels. 

Other than the factors mentioned above, there are other prostate cancer risk factors, the effects of which are less clear. Some of these top risk factors for prostate cancer include a high intake of calcium, smoking, obesity, inflammation of the prostate, and chemical exposure.