Exploring Gender Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms
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New research highlights that women often exhibit stronger verbal memory compared to men, which can obscure early indications of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study raises concerns that existing memory assessments may fail to identify symptoms in women, potentially hindering timely diagnosis and treatment.
“Recognizing gender discrepancies in Alzheimer’s disease is critical,” says Ralph Martins, director at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, who was not directly involved in the study.
Researchers, including Sasha Novozilova from McGill University in Montreal, examined data from extensive, long-term studies of older adults in the U.S. and Canada. Participants, some diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, underwent regular cognitive evaluations and brain imaging.
Their cognitive skills were tested by having participants learn a list of 15 words, recalling them immediately after distractions and later on. This form of verbal memory testing is a staple in Alzheimer’s research and clinical settings.
Findings revealed that many female participants continued to achieve “normal” test scores even after severe Alzheimer’s-related brain changes occurred. On average, women maintained their cognitive function for an additional 2.7 years compared to similarly affected men.
This disparity may be linked to women having a higher baseline of verbal memory throughout their lives, providing them with a “cognitive reserve” to tap into as the disease progresses. “Women generally exhibit superior brain connectivity,” Novozilova explains. “Therefore, if one brain region deteriorates, other areas can sometimes compensate.”
However, once this cognitive reserve diminishes, mental decline can accelerate, often too late to intervene effectively, researchers warn. Lewis Collins, also at McGill University, notes that new medications like lecanemab and donanemab can moderately slow Alzheimer’s progression, but require early intervention for maximum efficacy. This timing discrepancy might explain why women’s responses to these drugs are less optimal, as they are frequently diagnosed at later stages in clinical trials.
Another recommendation includes annual blood tests for women of a certain age to detect early Alzheimer’s signs before cognitive issues arise, suggests Martins. Non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as cognitive training, physical exercise, and adherence to a mind diet, may also help mitigate disease progression.
Interestingly, while men typically excel in spatial memory, women, on average, are more proficient in verbal tasks – possibly rooted in evolutionary behaviors. Historically, while men hunted, women may have developed language skills essential for community communication and child-rearing. Today, careers in writing, nursing, teaching, and administration further enhance women’s verbal memory, Novozilova remarks.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
