Women have a higher risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer disease during their lifetime than men, according to a prospective review of 7,901 subjects in the Framingham Heart Study.
Researchers used cumulative incidence rates from 777 cases of dementia to generate 10- to 50-year risk estimates for women and men, and found at age 45, a woman’s lifetime risk of dementia was 1 in 5, while a man’s lifetime risk was 1 in 10.
However, researchers noted that cardiovascular mortality was 6 times higher in men ages 45 to 54 years, suggesting selective survival of men with a healthier cardiovascular risk profile and lower propensity for dementia.
Citation: Chêne G, Beiser A, Au R, et al. Gender and incidence of dementia in the Framingham Heart Study from mid-adult life. Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(3):310-320. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.10.005.