Women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s, but despite this, women usually live longer than men following diagnosis.
This is according to a study funded by the BrightFocus Foundation under its Alzheimer’s Disease Research program.
The study experts say the increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s among women likely arises through a combination of factors, including sex chromosomes, hormones, brain structure, gender and life experiences.
These factors are being explored as part of a new direction in Alzheimer’s research.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.
According to experts, Alzheimer’s disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. And it can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
Researchers warn that women can lower their risk by focusing on the lifestyle factors under their control: eating a healthy diet, exercising both the body and the mind, and preventing or controlling other health conditions that contribute to AD, such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
Studies funded by Bright Focus Alzheimer’s Disease Research program and others are underway to identify and explain how each of these factors contributes to Alzheimer’s’ outsized impact on women, compared with men.
In addition to seeking personalized care, women can lower their risk of Alzheimer’s by focusing on the lifestyle factors under their control. Some healthy lifestyle actions one can do include:
Coping mechanisms
Eat. Eat a varied, nutritious, and low-glycemic diet. Include foods that contain vitamins C, D, and E, omega-3 fats, and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.
Exercise. Get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight. This will improve not only your immune system and blood pressure, but your brain and eye health.
Sleep. Get enough good quality sleep, as recommended for your age group. Research has pointed to the importance of regular deep sleep to flush the brain of waste material and toxins.
Mind your mind. Keep your mind active. While the debate continues over whether cognitive exercises will help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, keeping your mind nimble will enhance your overall well-being. You can also check out memory games.
Optimize your overall health throughout adulthood, and especially by middle age, by working to prevent or manage diseases and conditions that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, including diabetes, heart disease, traumatic brain injury (concussions), depression, and more.
