Gender Differences In Dementia Prevalence And Care
When you think about dementia risk factors, age might be the biggest one that comes to mind. Lifestyle, stress levels, and other factors can also play a role, but did you know that your gender may also affect your odds of developing dementia? Research shows that some types of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, may be more likely to affect women than men, while other types tend to affect men and women equally. People of all genders can take preventative measures against dementia, such as having active social lives, prioritizing nutrient-rich foods, exercising regularly, and caring for their mental health.
Understanding dementia
According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with 10 million new cases emerging each year.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, dementia is not the same thing as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is typically the most common form of dementia, caused by a buildup of plaque in the brain.
Types of dementia
However, there are other types of dementia besides Alzheimer’s, including the following:
- Vascular dementia, which can be caused by issues affecting the brain’s blood supply
- Lewy body dementia, which can be caused by abnormal protein deposits in the brain
- Mixed dementia, which can occur when someone has multiple types of dementia at once
Each of these conditions can cause gradual changes in thinking and daily functioning.
Symptoms of dementia
People with dementia may experience the following symptoms:
- Memory loss
- Issues with judgment and problem-solving
- Personality changes
- Symptoms of depression or anxiety
- Social isolation
- Loss of interest in relationships and activities
Various medications may slow the progression of dementia and reduce its symptoms, but dementia tends to worsen over time. As a result, patients often need ongoing help as the illness progresses.
Dementia risk factors
You may have heard that age is one of the biggest risk factors for developing dementia, but there are others, too. For example, people with a family history of dementia may be more likely to develop it.
Other dementia risk factors may include those listed below:
- Social isolation
- Hearing loss
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Excessive drinking
- Smoking
- Kidney disease
It may be worth noting that dementia is not considered a normal part of healthy aging. According to the CDC, many older adults go their whole lives without ever developing dementia.
Gender differences in dementia prevalence and care
Beyond the risk factors listed above, sex differences are another factor that may contribute to dementia risk. According to a 2016 report summarizing dementia research and data on gender, there is an almost twofold risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women compared to men. That said, even though women may have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, both genders tend to have similar rates of other types of dementia.
Why are women more likely to develop Alzheimer’s? The answer may come down to several factors.
According to the Harvard Medical School, some researchers have proposed that the proteins that cause Alzheimer’s are due to an immune response in the brain.
If this is the case, then women’s brains might have higher levels of these proteins, since women tend to have a stronger immune response. That said, more research may be needed to confirm this theory.
Another possible explanation for this gender difference is that women tend to live longer than men. Because the risk of Alzheimer’s usually increases with age, a higher number of women may live long enough to develop it.
Caregiving for someone with dementia is often associated with increased stress and depression, which may, in turn, raise the risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
Lowering the dementia risk factor: Tips for men and women
The data above illustrates why dementia prevention strategies may be helpful for everyone, regardless of gender. While no single strategy can completely eliminate risk, certain lifestyle changes may lower your chances of developing dementia. In fact, the CDC reports that up to 40% of dementia cases may be delayed or even prevented.
Below are some dementia prevention strategies to explore:
Having an active social life: Research has found that being socially active may lower the risk of dementia and other complications later in life. This might mean having frequent interactions with family and friends, but it could also mean being active in your community or living with others.
A 2023 study of 5,022 Medicare recipients suggests that even interacting over text or email could have benefits.
- Eating nutritious foods: Eating habits rich in nutrients may improve brain health and potentially help prevent dementia. Nutritious eating habits may also lower vascular dementia risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.
- Staying physically active: In a 2021 study, researchers looked at the activity levels of over 60,000 older adults over the course of several years. The participants who exercised more usually had a lower risk of dementia than those who didn’t exercise. These benefits could be seen even in those who only exercised a little.
- Challenging your brain: Keeping your brain active may help you maintain your cognitive skills, especially as you age. In 2023, researchers looked at the hobbies of 10,000 Australian adults over the age of 70. They found that those who spent their free time doing mental activities like reading, taking classes, and doing puzzles were typically less likely to develop dementia.
Untreated depression may contribute to dementia risk, so looking after your mental health may be another preventative action against dementia. Whether or not you currently live with depression, therapy may be a useful mental health resource. Working with a therapist may help you manage life stressors, develop healthy coping skills, and proactively address other mental health concerns.
Therapy for mental health support
If you’re considering therapy for ongoing mental health support, it may help to have a therapist you trust. Finding the right therapist for you can sometimes take a few tries, which is why online therapy may be helpful. With BetterHelp, you can change therapists for any reason, at any time, for no extra cost. This may make it easier to find a therapist you want to work with long-term.
Studies show that online therapy can effectively reduce symptoms of depression. For example, a 2017 data analysis looked at 373 scientific studies of internet-based therapy. Researchers found that online therapy could be an effective treatment for depression, as well as other mental health concerns, including anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and more.
Takeaway
People of all genders can take steps to lower their odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Some examples include living a healthy lifestyle, staying mentally active, socializing, and maintaining good mental health. One way to address your mental health may be to work with a licensed therapist in person or online.
Frequently asked questions about sex differences in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Read below for frequently asked questions about this topic.
What are the main gender differences in dementia prevalence?
Women tend to develop dementia more frequently than men, especially Alzheimer's disease. This could be due to both biological factors and longer life expectancy in women.
How do sex differences impact dementia symptoms?
Men and women may experience different symptoms or progress through dementia stages differently. Women might show more memory decline, while men may experience more behavioral changes.
Is there a unique risk factor for women in developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?
Women tend to live longer than men, and since age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, this increases their chances of reaching an age where the likelihood of developing dementia is greater.
How do gender differences in dementia affect treatment options?
While treatments are generally similar, gender-specific factors like hormones and lifestyle may influence how effective certain treatments are for men versus women.
Do men have different risk factors for dementia compared to women?
Yes, men and women have different dementia risk factors. Men are more likely to develop dementia due to cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease, which can lead to vascular dementia from reduced blood flow to the brain. Women, with their longer life expectancy, have a higher overall risk of developing dementia simply because they are more likely to reach an age where the risk increases.
Hormonal changes over the course of a woman’s lifetime may also affect dementia onset. The relationship between hormonal fluctuations and dementia is complex, though, and more research is needed to determine the effects of menopausal transition and hormone replacement therapy, for example.
Poor sleep quality appears to be more of a dementia and AD risk factor for women since there is a higher prevalence of sleep disorders among women versus men. One such sleep disorder is sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for a few seconds during sleep.
How do sex differences influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer's disease often progresses more rapidly in women, possibly due to hormonal or genetic differences, whereas men might experience a slower decline but more physical symptoms.
How does age act as a risk factor in the development of dementia for both genders?
Age is the most significant risk factor for dementia in both men and women, with the likelihood of developing dementia increasing dramatically after age 65.
Are there lifestyle-related risk factors that vary by gender for dementia?
Yes. Factors like diet, exercise, and smoking can affect men and women differently. Women, for instance, might be more affected by social isolation, while men may face more risk from physical health issues like heart disease.
Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease pose risks for both genders, but research suggests women may be more susceptible to some of these factors, including high blood pressure in later life.
Moreover, women are more likely to have low educational attainment than men due to gender roles, which is associated with a higher prevalence of dementia. They’re also more likely to develop dementia following a head injury while men are at a lower risk.
One study revealed that women may also be more vulnerable to risks linked to low socioeconomic status, but this study had several limitations. More research, particularly large population-based cohort studies, are needed to learn more about modifiable risk factors for dementia based on gender.
Many modifiable risk factors of cognitive aging associated with dementia rates are not sex-specific, including an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, for instance.
Can dementia be associated with a person's race, gender or culture?
Yes. Studies suggest certain ethnic groups, including Black African, South Asian, and Black Caribbean groups may be at a greater risk of developing dementia.
Moreover, the lifetime risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s dementia may be greater in women compared to men. The same increase in risk does not exist for non-Alzheimer’s dementia, however.
Assessing sex risk factors can be challenging since certain risk factors overlap. For example, older women are at an increased risk due to age, and since women live longer than men, they may be doubly affected.
It’s still not clear whether women are at a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to men of the same age, though. Some studies show no difference of statistical significance. A systematic review of the medical records as well as observational studies of dementia cases in younger age may be needed.
A present study found opposite risk estimates compared to previous studies, with men at a greater risk for cognitive decline with age. More research is needed to confirm these findings. Even so, age continues to be the greatest risk factor of dementia for both men and women.
Still, research suggests that women with the APOE genotype may be at a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or late onset dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease compared to men with the same genetic marker.
Does dementia affect people differently?
Yes. Individuals may be affected differently by dementia depending on the type of dementia they have, underlying causes, and their overall health prior to receiving a dementia diagnosis. For instance, a person may experience different symptoms based on the different brain regions that are affected. In some cases, there can be significant differences in terms of disease progression as well.
Studies also show that women with either mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease tend to experience a faster progression of symptoms related to cognitive function compared to men. According to a 2022 meta-analysis, women with Alzheimer’s disease also experienced more neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and psychosis.
Yet, women may have an advantage over men when it comes to verbal memory, despite disease progression, changes in brain structure, and other cognitive deficits. Many researchers wonder if this puts women at risk for misdiagnosis based on the cognitive test battery for the Mini-Mental State Examination. Some suggest diagnostic guidelines for women should be different than men.
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