Alzheimer's Risk Factors Vary For Genders
Factors increasing risk for developing Alzheimer's disease are different for men and women.
A study by French scientists examined 7000 people aged over 65. At the
beginning of the study none of them had dementia, but 40% of them had
mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Study participants were monitored 2
and 4 year periods.
Only 6.5% of those with mild cognitive impairment developed Alzheimer's
disease after 4 years. About half of the study participants did not
report any brain changes. About 1/3 of them reported some improvement
of cognitive ability.
The study also found that Alzheimer's disease risk factors for men and
women are different. Men with MCI mostly were overweigh, diabetic, and
with a previous history of stroke. Those who had stroke were 3 times
more likely to develop dementia.
However, women's risk factors were more coming from overall health and
family members emotionally supporting women. Women with insomnia,
depression were 3.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Women did not report any increase in dementia risk because of previous
stroke history.
Study authors stated in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and
Psychiatry: "Some potentially reversible risk factors for progression
to dementia were identified, which were not the same for men and women.
These factors should be taken into account in the development of
gender-specific clinical intervention programs for mild cognitive
impairment."
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Source: eMaxHealth on May 03 2008 08:30:33 |