Women experience ‘significantly faster’ decline in cognition than men and are at greater risk for dementia, scientists warn
- Researchers from the US analyzed 26,088 people who took cognitive tests
- This included 11,775 men and 14,313 women with an average starting age of 58 years
- The team found that men’s and women’s memory capacity declined at similar rates
- But women lost executive function and global cognitive performance more quickly
- Decline in these two areas of cognition is known to increase the risk of dementia
Compared to men, women undergo “significantly faster” cognitive decline later in life, increasing their risk of dementia, a new study warns.
US researchers analyzed data on the cognitive decline of 26,088 people who were repeatedly tested for global cognition, executive function, and memory.
At the start of testing, the mean age of the participants was 58 years.
The team found that, on average, men and women experienced a decrease in their memory capacity at a similar rate.
However, women were found to undergo significantly greater decline in both global cognition and executive functions – trends associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Compared to men, women undergo ‘significantly faster’ cognitive decline later in life, increasing their risk of dementia, a new study warns (stock image)
[Our] The results suggest that women have a greater cognitive reserve, but a faster cognitive decline later in life than men, ‘the researchers wrote in their paper.
“There are indications that the incidence of dementia in Europe and the US has decreased over the past 25 years, but that the decreases were less in women than in men.”
“Our findings suggest that women are at risk for a delayed identification of cognitive decline, but a faster trajectory of decline, suggesting an increased risk of dementia and disability compared to men.”
This, they added, “is consistent with research showing that women with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease have faster cognitive decline than men.”
In their study, Deborah Levine, a chronic disease expert at the University of Michigan, and colleagues analyzed data on the cognitive abilities of 26,088 people, including 11,775 men and 14,313 women.
The data was pooled from five existing health surveys that ran from 1971–2017.
All subjects enrolled in the study had no history of stroke or dementia at the time of their initial assessment, and therefore may affect the rate of cognitive decline.
The researchers found that – at the time of their first cognitive assessment, women had, on average, significantly higher performance scores in global cognition, executive function, and memory than their male counterparts.
Although women’s and men’s memory abilities declined at approximately the same rate over time, women were found to experience significantly faster deterioration in their performance on both global cognition and executive function tests.
Although women’s and men’s memory abilities declined at approximately the same rate over time, women were found to experience significantly faster deterioration in their performance on both global cognition and executive function tests. Pictured, a comparison of the expected decline in cognitive values (with global cognition on the left, executive function in the middle, and memory on the right) from age 70 for the average black man and woman
According to the researchers, the findings could help improve health care for women later in life.
“Women may need more resources for care and functional support, especially given the longer life expectancy of women compared to men,” they said.
In addition, they added that women may also have a more increased “ need for serial cognitive assessment to allow earlier detection of cognitive decline. ”
Women, they added, are at greater risk than men of being diagnosed with dementia based on objectively measured cognitive decline.
However, the team cautioned, “Our findings that women had higher initial cognitive scores suggest that informants and clinicians may not observe significant cognitive decline in women until substantial loss and impairment has occurred.”
The full findings of the study are published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA? THE KILLER’S DISEASE THAT ROBS SUFFERS FROM THEIR MEMORIES
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions
GLOBAL CARE
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a series of progressive neurological conditions (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.
Some people may have a combination of types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but it is most common in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live very old.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, of which more than 500,000 have Alzheimer’s disease.
It is estimated that the number of people with dementia in the UK will rise to more than 1 million by 2025.
In the US there are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients. A comparable percentage increase is expected for the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of developing dementia.
The number of diagnoses is improving, but many people with dementia are thought to be still undiagnosed.
IS THERE A TREATMENT?
Currently, there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow its progression, and the sooner it is noticed, the more effective the treatments are.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society