Fully 82% of U.S. women are unaware of their relatively high odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease. And most have not addressed key dementia risk factors with their healthcare providers, according to a new survey from the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic.
Surveyors queried a national sample of 1,000 women, aged 18 to 89, in June. Although two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s disease are women, 73% of respondents reported that they have not discussed their cognitive health with providers. In addition, 62% said that they have not talked about menopause or perimenopause. Physical changes that occur in these transitional life phases are linked to an increased risk of developing the disease, the researchers noted.
Meanwhile, many respondents reported experiencing common chronic problems that are associated with dementia. More than half said that they are not getting enough sleep, for example, and 2 in 5 reported being diagnosed with or being treated for depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Motivation to change lifestyle
There was also some good news. Most women (71%) had seen a doctor in the past year, and 58% ranked their health as good overall. The surveyors also found that women are highly motivated to prioritize lifestyle risk factors to reduce their odds of dementia. For example, 82% said they would stay mentally/intellectually active, 67% pledged to better manage stress and 66% said that they would exercise regularly.
“We know that women’s unique biology and experiences over the course of their lifetime do play a role in Alzheimer’s disease,” said Beri Ridgeway, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, in a statement. “[T]his survey illustrates the need to inform women of this link and empower them to start having conversations with their providers now so they can prioritize their brain health and improve overall health outcomes.”
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