One of the most interesting realities explored in this year’s International Conference on Alzheimer’s, held last month in WashingtonDC, was the fact that significantly more women develop Alzheimer’s than men. Two-thirds of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s are women. There is a lot of focus in this country on breast cancer prevention in women, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association “Women in their 60’s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they are to get breast cancer.”
Moreover, researchers at the conference noted that women descend into dementia twice as fast as men.
Why is this? What increases women’s risk and how can that risk be mitigated?
First, women tend to live longer, and with advancing age come a greater risk for AD. But researchers have suggested at least six other reasons why women may be at higher risk, and unlike age most of these can be reduced or avoided with appropriate interventions. They are:
- Greater vulnerability to stress
- Hormonal issues related to estrogen and progesterone and low thyroid.
- Other metabolic differences.
- More amyloid protein in their brain
- May be more vulnerable to affects from surgery and anesthesia
- A greater risk for UTI’s (urinary tract infections).
According to Kristine Yaffe of the University of California San Francisco, there are some very complex biological reasons, women tend to be more vulnerable to stress related disorders including depression. One reason we know is that these are associated with higher levels of cortisol, which over time can damage neurons in vital areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, where memories are made and Alzheimer’s often begins. For a better understanding of the biology behind this and what you can do click here. Improved sleep may also play a key role here.
Hormones – We know that low estrogen or low testosterone can lead to memory problems. While both sexes are prone to hormonal decline. Women tend to be impacted more than men by this, post menopause. You may recall that last Fall we talked about the new UCLA protocol used by Dr. Bredesen to turn around AD, and the fact that he sees hormone replacement or enhancement as essential for recovery.
If you are interested in experimenting with this consider pregnenolone as one safe and simple way to boost hormones. A number of my clients have found this to be very helpful. Click here to read more about this connection, And here, or see July 2013 in the bar to the right.
Keep in mind that physical exercise is also a potent hormone booster.
Also incidental to hormonal decline is vascular decline, which is another serious factor to consider. For ideas on how to reduce this risk go here.
Low Thyroid is another major contributor to low metabolism, low energy and a poorer memory, and women tend to be more prone to those problems than men.
Iodine from kelp is helpful for some that way. And there are several other new nutritional formulas that may be helpful. Check with your local health food store. If hormone replacement is required A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine noted greater improvements in mood and brain function with Armour® Thyroid than with the more commonly prescribed Synthroid.
Low Metabolism – Women often complain that they have to work harder to lose weight than their male counterparts. Dr. Roberta Brinton of the University of Southern California noted that one reason for that is because our metabolisms may be wired a bit differently, “and it may be that women are affected differently by diet and exercise than men are.” Hormones, of course, both sex and thyroid also likely play a role.
More amyloid protein in the brain – Beta amyloid is associated with a higher risk for AD. But as Dr. Craft points out, a low glycemic (low sugar) diet and exercise may help there.
Green tea, the vitamin Benfotiamine and the protein carnosine may also be of value there to reduce the production of beta amyloid and reduce the damage it may cause.
Surgery – We have long known and noted in Aug 2013 that at least some anesthesias could increase the risk, such as isoflurane. But a panel presenting at this conference noted that other anesthesias may have an adverse effect on older women as well, and even the surgery itself can have a detrimental effect on those at risk.
Urinary Tract Infections – Finally, it’s important to always be on the lookout for UTI’s, especially for those who have diabetes, or insulin resistance. Cranberry juice may be of some help there, but the importance of drinking plenty of good clean water to keep the kidney’s hydrated cannot be overstated.
Growing old is somewhat like walking into a mine field. There appears to be risk at every turn. But fortunately, the same simple practices of a healthy diet, and exercise, and perhaps a few supplements can do much to reduce one’s risk.
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