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 thebeginning of the study none of them had dementia, but 40% of them hadmild cognitive impairment (MCI). Study participants were monitored 2and 4 year periods.

Only 6.5% of those with mild cognitive impairment developed Alzheimer'sdisease after 4 years. About half of the study participants did notreport any brain changes. About 1/3 of them reported some improvementof cognitive ability.

The study also found that Alzheimer's disease risk factors for men andwomen are different. Men with MCI mostly were overweigh, diabetic, andwith a previous history of stroke. Those who had stroke were 3 timesmore likely to develop dementia.

However, women's risk factors were more coming from overall health andfamily 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 previousstroke history.

Study authors stated in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery andPsychiatry: "Some potentially reversible risk factors for progressionto dementia were identified, which were not the same for men and women.These factors should be taken into account in the development ofgender-specific clinical intervention programs for mild cognitiveimpairment."