Alzheimer's disease is a lot more common in women than men. About 66% of the 5 million Alzheimer's cases in the U.S. are women. It is actually one of the most common diseases that elderly women are at risk of. This is surprising because much emphasis has been put on breast cancer, which is also a disease common in elder women, but not as much as Alzheimer's though.
Just to explain really quick, Alzheimer's disease is a "brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks," according to the National Institute of Aging. So as you can see Alzheimer's is a very hard obstacle to deal with for the patient and even their loved ones.
And you might be thinking why women are diagnosed more with it more than men? Many people first think it is because women have a longer life expectancy than men, giving them a higher chance to reach the age to get the disease. While that is true, there is another aspect being suggested by Harvard researchers. Women have stronger immune systems than men, so they tend to have more amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are beta-amyloid proteins that are found between nerve cells. And this protein is known to be involved with Alzheimer's and this serves as a suggestion on why women have higher rates. But remember these are all just theories now and a lot more research still needs to be done! This should get you thinking about the many possibilities about our brains!
Thankfully, there are some signs that can help diagnose Alzheimer's (remember to also confirm with a doctor though) in both men and women. So what are some of those signs?
Memory loss
Often wandering
Repeating questions
Poor judgement
Mood/personality changes
Longer time to complete tasks
Shorter attention span
Difficulty with language
As you can see the effects that come from Alzheimer's can be devastating as it can change the daily life of someone. Understanding Alzheimer's disease is crucial because so many people are affected by it, especially women.
So now that you understand Alzheimer's disease more, what can you do to spread awareness especially for women?
References
Budson, A. E. (2022, January 20). Why are women more likely to develop alzheimer's disease? Harvard Health. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-are-women-more-likely-to-develop-alzheimers-disease-202201202672
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Alzheimer's disease fact sheet. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). What happens to the brain in alzheimer's disease? National Institute on Aging. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-disease
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