It appears that older women who develop small but noticeable problems with their memory and thinking decline twice as fast as men with the same amount of cognitive issues. A new study found that women lose cognitive function faster than men once the first signs of memory loss and impairment in thinking are noticed.
About two-thirds of people who have Alzheimer's are women, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Sixteen percent of women aged 71 or order have Alzheimer's compared to 11% of men that old. Some of this difference is due to the fact that women live longer than men, but there appear to be other issues underlying the discrepancy. As yet, there is no known reason why women tend to be more affected by Alzheimer's than men.
This study was reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2015 held in Washington, D.C. This new research, out of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences a Duke University in Durham, NC, is a continuation of earlier work that found that there was a steeper decline in women with mild impairment over a period of a year. This new research has found that this steeper decline extends to 8 years after mild cognitive impairment is seen.
The Duke researchers analyzed data from standard tests of brain function taken by nearly 400 men and women who are being followed as part of a large ongoing Alzheimer's trial. The participants have been taking the cognitive tests and brain scans on average for 4 years, and for up to 8 years.
After accounting for factors that influence memory and mental acuity, including age, education, and genetic predisposition, the research team found that women's scores went down by an average of about two points a year, while men's scores went down by an average of one point a year.
The study also looked at social functioning, how well the participants did in their daily life. The researchers also found that social function slipped faster in women than in men.