Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified that women not only exhibit a higher prevalence of several modifiable dementia risk factors but also experience a more pronounced negative cognitive impact from them. The study, published on May 19, 2026, in Biology of Sex Differences, analyzed data from over 17,000 middle-aged and older adults, shedding light on sex-specific vulnerabilities in dementia prevention.
The analysis revealed distinct sex-based differences in the prevalence of 13 established modifiable dementia risk factors. Women were found to have higher rates of depression, physical inactivity, and sleep problems, with depression being nearly twice as common in women (17%) compared to men (9%). Additionally, women showed slightly lower average educational attainment, a known risk factor for cognitive decline.
Conversely, men exhibited higher rates of hearing loss, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use. Despite these differences, the study highlighted that certain risk factors, particularly cardiovascular and metabolic conditions like hypertension and increased BMI, were more strongly associated with poorer cognitive performance in women. Even risk factors more prevalent in men, such as hearing loss and diabetes, showed a steeper negative association with cognitive scores in women.
"Looking beyond which risk factors are most common, we found that some have a disproportionately larger impact on women’s cognition," stated Megan Fitzhugh, PhD, assistant professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine and first author of the study. This suggests that dementia prevention efforts could be more effective if tailored to both the prevalence of risk factors and their specific cognitive impact on each sex. The findings align with a growing emphasis on precision medicine, advocating for prevention strategies customized to individual characteristics.
The researchers emphasize the modifiable nature of these risk factors, presenting actionable opportunities for intervention. They call for greater focus on managing depression, increasing physical activity, and improving cardiovascular health among women to address these strong associations with cognitive health. Further research is encouraged to understand the underlying biological and social mechanisms contributing to these sex-based differences in Alzheimer's risk factors.
