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Women experience ‘much faster’ declines in cognition than men, have a higher risk of dementia, scientists warn
- US researchers analyzed 26,088 people who took cognitive tests
- This included 11,775 men and 14,313 women with an average starting age of 58
- The team found that the memory capacities of men and women decline at similar rates.
- But women lost executive functions and overall cognitive performance faster
- Decline in these two areas of cognition is known to increase the risk of dementia
Compared to men, women experience “ much faster ” cognitive declines later in life, which increases their risk for dementia, a new study has warned.
US researchers analyzed data on cognitive decline from 26,088 people who were repeatedly tested for overall cognition, executive function, and memory.
At the start of the tests, the average age of participants was 58.
The team found that, on average, men and women experienced a decline in their memory capacity at a similar rate.
However, women were found to experience significantly greater declines in both overall cognition and executive function – trends related to increased risk of dementia.
Compared to men, women experience ‘much faster’ cognitive declines later in life, which increases their risk of dementia, a new study has warned (stock image)
‘[Our] The results suggest that women have greater cognitive reserve but a faster cognitive decline later than men, ”the researchers wrote in their article.
“Evidence suggests that the incidence of dementia in Europe and the United States has declined over the past 25 years, but the declines were smaller in women than in men.
“ Our results suggest that women are at risk of delayed recognition of cognitive decline, but a faster decline trajectory, 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, chronic disease expert Deborah Levine from the University of Michigan and her 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 studies that ran from 1971 to 2017.
All the subjects included in the study had no history of stroke or dementia at the time of their first assessment, which may affect the rate of cognitive decline.
The researchers found that at the time of their first cognitive assessment, women had significantly higher performance scores on average in overall cognition, executive function, and memory than their male counterparts.
While the memory capacities of women and men were found to decline over time at about the same rate, women experienced much faster declines in their performance on tests of overall cognition and executive function.
While the memory capacities of women and men were found to decline over time at about the same rate, women experienced much faster declines in their performance on tests of overall cognition and executive function. Pictured is a comparison of projected decreases in cognitive values (with overall cognition on the left, executive function in the middle, and memory on the right) starting at age 70 for the average black man and woman
According to the researchers, the findings may help improve the delivery of health care to women later in life.
“Women may have greater needs for care and functional support resources, especially given the longer life expectancy of women compared to men,” they said.
Along with this, they added that women may also have a “ greater 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 that “our results that women had higher initial cognitive scores suggest that informants and clinicians may not observe significant cognitive decline in women until loss and loss. substantial impairment have occurred ”.
The full results of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA? THE KILLING DISEASE THAT ROBS SUFFER FROM THEIR MEMORIES
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) that impact memory, thinking, and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people can have a combination of types of dementia.
Regardless of the type diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in their own way.
Dementia is a global concern, but it is most commonly seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live very old.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are more than 850,000 people with dementia in the UK today, including over 500,000 with Alzheimer’s.
It is estimated that the number of people living with dementia in the UK by 2025 will rise to over one million.
In the United States, it is estimated that there are 5.5 million people with Alzheimer’s disease. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, the risk of developing dementia also increases.
Diagnosis rates are improving, but it is believed that many people with dementia still go undiagnosed.
Is there a cure?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But newer drugs can slow its progression and the earlier it is detected, the more effective the treatments.
Source: Alzheimer Society
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