Alzheimer’s Disease: How It Affects Men and Women Differently

by Cassidy Woods In-home senior care

Age-related illnesses have become a common phenomenon these days, with men and women both being affected by these conditions at different stages of their lives. One of the most dangerous and complex age-related health conditions today is Alzheimer's disease. A person affected by Alzheimer's disease suffers from memory loss that may worsen further over time. Although this condition is found in both men and women, research reports have revealed that in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease, nearly 65% are women.

Although the difference between the number of men and women suffering from Alzheimer's disease is striking, what are the reasons for this difference?

Longer life expectancy -There are several studies that illustrate that women have a longer life span than men. According to statistics shared by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average life expectancy for women is 81 years, while for men, 76 years. Since Alzheimer's disease is an age-related condition, women are more likely to develop the disease because they usually live longer than men.

Less physical exercise - According to a recent study, women who are more physically active and follow a high level of fitness are almost 88% less at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to women with an average of fitness. One study found that there is a gender pattern in physical activity and found that women were less physically active than men in different countries. This makes women more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Higher risk of depression -Depression is one of the best-known precursors to Alzheimer's disease, and experts say women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. Depression leads to faster shrinkage of the smaller hippocampus, which plays an indispensable role in memory formation in women's brains. But surprisingly, the same effect of depression was not observed in men's brains.

While Alzheimer's disease affects women and men, women are more likely to be affected due to genetic factors. If you are looking for a free trial of Alzheimer's treatment for your loved one, please contact us to learn more about Alzheimer's treatment and dementia.