A new study from the University of California, San Diego reveals that dementia risk factors impact women's cognition more severely than men's, even when accounting for the same conditions.
Analyzing data from over 17,000 individuals aged 40 and older, researchers examined 13 common risk factors. They found that depression, physical inactivity, and sleep problems were more prevalent in women. In men, higher rates of hearing loss, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use were more common.
However, some factors linked to worse cognitive scores in women included high blood pressure, hearing loss, and diabetes. Higher BMI was also associated with poorer cognitive performance in women in their 50s and 60s, but not at older ages.
Lead author Megan Fitzhugh stated that prevention efforts may need to be tailored based on how strongly each factor affects cognition in women versus men. Notably, years of education and total cholesterol were associated with better cognition.
The findings, published in Biology of Sex Differences, highlight that Alzheimer's now affects one in nine US adults over 65, with two-thirds being women. The researchers emphasize that all risk factors are potentially modifiable.
