Women experience “significantly faster” declines in cognition than men and are at greater 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 initial average age of 58
- The team found that the memory skills of men and women decrease at similar rates
- But women lost executive functions and faster overall cognitive performance
- Declines in these two areas of cognition are known to increase the risk of dementia
Compared to men, women experience “significantly faster” cognitive decline later in life, which increases the risk of dementia, a new study warned.
US researchers analyzed data on the cognitive decline of 26,088 people who were tested repeatedly for global cognition, executive function and memory.
At the beginning of the test, the average age of the participants was 58 years.
The team found that, on average, men and women experienced declines in their memory capacity at a similar rate.
However, it has been found that women experience significantly greater declines in both global cognition and executive functions – trends linked to increased risk of dementia.
Compared to men, women experience “significantly faster” cognitive declines later in life, which increases the risk of dementia, warned a new study (stock image)
‘[Our] the results suggest that women have greater cognitive reserve but cognitive decline in old age faster than men ‘, the researchers wrote in their article.
“Evidence suggests that the incidence of dementia in Europe and the United States has decreased over the past 25 years, but the declines have been smaller in women than in men.”
“Our findings suggest that women are at risk of delaying the identification of cognitive decline, but a faster decline trajectory, suggesting a higher 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 experience faster cognitive decline than men.”
In their study, chronic disease expert Deborah Levine of the University of Michigan and colleagues analyzed data on the cognitive skills of 26,088 people – including 11,775 men and 14,313 women.
The data was gathered from five existing health studies that took place from 1971–2017.
All individuals included in the study had no previous history of stroke or dementia at the time of the first assessment, as this 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.
Although the memory capacities of women and men decreased over time at approximately the same rate, women experienced significantly faster declines in their performance on tests of global cognition and executive function.
Although the memory capacities of women and men decreased over time at approximately the same rate, women experienced significantly faster declines in their performance in both global cognition tests and executive function tests. In the photo, a comparison of projected decreases in cognitive values (with global cognition on the left, executive function in the middle and memory on the right) from the age of 70 for the average black man and woman
According to the researchers, the findings may help improve health care delivery for women later.
“Women may have greater needs for functional support and care resources, especially due to the longer life expectancy of women compared to men,” they said.
In addition, they added that women may also have a “higher need for serial cognitive assessment to enable early 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 warned, ‘our findings that women had higher initial cognitive scores suggest that informants and doctors may not see significant cognitive decline in women until substantial loss or impairment has occurred’.
The full results of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA? THE MURDERING DISEASE THAT ROBS SUFFERS YOUR MEMORIES
Dementia is a generic term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is a generic term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those that affect the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of types of dementia.
Regardless of the type diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in a unique way.
Dementia is a global concern, but is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, of which more than 500,000 have Alzheimer’s.
It is estimated that the number of people living with dementia in the UK in 2025 will increase to more than 1 million.
In the USA, it is estimated that there are 5.5 million people with Alzheimer’s. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, the risk of developing dementia increases.
Diagnostic rates are improving, but it is believed that many people with dementia have not yet been diagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow its progression, and the sooner it is detected, the more effective the treatments will be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society