Not only consider the risk of dementia, but also analyze protective factors that reduce the risk of Alzheimer's dementia: Researchers from Canada and Sweden have investigated whether there are gender-specific differences regarding the so-called cognitive reserve.
There is frequent discussion of risk factors that can promote the development of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). „However, factors that reduce AD risk, such as cognitive reserve, are less well researched,“ write female researchers from Canada and Sweden. This is reason enough for the author group to delve deeper into gender differences regarding cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve includes, for example, education, intelligence quotient (IQ), complexity of occupation, and bilingualism – these are the factors that the female scientists considered in their study. How gender-specific is cognitive reserve? Does lower cognitive reserve contribute to higher AD rates in women?
This is an interesting approach, especially for women, as they account for two-thirds of all people with Alzheimer's dementia. Once diagnosed with AD, women experience a faster cognitive decline. The main finding achieved by the researchers offers hope: „A greater cognitive reserve can protect against the risk of developing Alzheimer's or other diseases.“ Furthermore, a greater cognitive reserve lowers the risk of Alzheimer's in women more than in men.
What applies to women doesn't necessarily apply to men.
The studies also suggest that the factors contributing to cognitive reserve do not apply equally to women and men. This is because, historically, women have had less access to cognitive reserve, such as formal education and professionally demanding tasks.
Using lifelong bilingualism as an example, it is shown that: individuals who speak two languages from childhood exhibit „a later onset of AD symptoms than monolinguals,“ suggesting that this factor protects against the development of AD, irrespective of gender.
For the study published in 2021, the authors reviewed and analyzed a total of 16 studies.
Tip for practice: A larger cognitive reserve can protect against the development of Alzheimer's dementia. Women benefit more than men from cognitive reserve. Therefore, women, in particular, should take advantage of educational courses and cognitively stimulating activities, for example.
Here is the link to the study:
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