Why Alzheimer’s Hits Men and Women Differently: The Surprising Impact of Stress and Finance

Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, impacts over 7 million Americans, particularly those aged 65 and older. Researchers are diligently exploring ways to prevent and treat this condition, with many risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and lack of exercise being within our control. However, a recent study has unveiled two surprising reasons why Alzheimer’s affects men and women differently, reasons largely beyond our control.

Impact of Stressful Life Events

A study published in the journal Neurology reveals that stressful life events, such as the death of a partner or financial setbacks, influence brain health differently based on gender and education level.

Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Centre (BBRC) examined health data from 1,290 participants in the ALFA cohort. These individuals, aged 48 to 77, had no cognitive impairment at the start of the study but were mostly from families with a history of Alzheimer’s.

“Using magnetic resonance imaging, we studied the differences in grey matter volume in the brain and analyzed Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid, such as beta-amyloid protein,” explained Eleni Palpatzis, a pre-doctoral researcher at ISGlobal and first author of the study.

The Role of Grey Matter and Proteins

Grey matter, crucial for mental functions, memory, emotions, and movement, is affected in Alzheimer’s patients by abnormal beta-amyloid protein levels. These proteins form plaques that disrupt cell function, leading to cell death along with tau and neurogranin proteins.

The study found that participants who experienced the death of a partner showed increased levels of beta-amyloid proteins, more pronounced in men and those with lower education levels. Women, on the other hand, exhibited higher levels of tau and neurogranin proteins in similar circumstances.

Financial Stress and Brain Health

Financial stress also played a significant role in altering brain health. Unemployment resulted in reduced grey matter volume in areas responsible for emotional and cognitive regulation, with men being more affected.

Economic losses similarly reduced grey matter volume, but this effect was more pronounced in women.

“Men seem to be more negatively affected by the loss of a partner (which affects amyloid-related proteins) and unemployment (which reduces grey matter). This may be because men tend to have fewer close relationships, making the loss of a partner more isolating, so the loss of a partner is more isolating for them, and because unemployment carries a greater social stigma for men,” said senior study author Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, ISGlobal researcher.

She continued, “On the other hand, women seem more vulnerable to financial difficulties, which affect grey matter volume. This could be related to the fact that women have historically had less financial security, and that they tend to report higher levels of economic concern, which negatively impacts their overall mental well-being.”

Considerations for Future Research

It’s important to note that the study’s participants were predominantly White. The Alzheimer’s Association highlights that “older Black Americans are twice as likely as older Whites to have Alzheimer’s or another dementia.”

Researchers acknowledge the need for future studies to determine if these findings apply to more diverse populations.

These insights into how stress and financial difficulties impact Alzheimer’s risk underscore the importance of considering gender and societal factors in understanding this complex disease.

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