{"id":900,"date":"2015-08-13T08:02:51","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T14:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/?p=900"},"modified":"2015-08-13T08:02:51","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T14:02:51","slug":"women-at-greater-risk-for-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/women-at-greater-risk-for-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"Women at Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most interesting realities explored in this year\u2019s International Conference on Alzheimer\u2019s, held last month in WashingtonDC, was the fact that significantly more women develop Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a><\/b> than men. \u00a0Two-thirds<\/b> of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s are women.\u00a0 There is a lot of focus in this country on breast cancer prevention in women, but according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association \u201cWomen\u00a0in their 60’s are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they are to get breast cancer.\u201d \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Moreover, researchers at the conference noted that\u00a0<\/b>women descend into\u00a0dementia twice as fast as men.<\/b><\/p>\n

Why is this?\u00a0 What increases women\u2019s risk and how can that risk be mitigated?<\/p>\n

First, women tend to live longer, and with advancing age come a greater risk for AD. \u00a0But 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. \u00a0They are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Greater vulnerability to stress<\/li>\n
  2. Hormonal issues related to estrogen and progesterone and low thyroid.<\/li>\n
  3. Other metabolic differences.<\/li>\n
  4. More amyloid protein in their brain<\/li>\n
  5. May be more vulnerable to affects from surgery and anesthesia<\/li>\n
  6. A greater risk for UTI\u2019s (urinary tract infections).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    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<\/b> related disorders including\u00a0depression<\/b>. 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\u2019s often begins. \u00a0For a better understanding of the biology behind this and what you can do click here<\/a>. \u00a0 Improved sleep may also play a key role here<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Hormones<\/b> \u2013 We know that low estrogen or low testosterone can lead to memory problems. \u00a0While both sexes are prone to hormonal decline.\u00a0 Women tend to be impacted more than men by this, post menopause. \u00a0You may recall that last Fall we talked about the new UCLA protocol used by Dr. Bredesen<\/a> to turn around AD, and the fact that he sees hormone replacement or enhancement as essential for recovery.<\/p>\n

    If you are interested in experimenting with this consider pregnenolone as one safe and simple way to boost hormones. \u00a0A number of my clients have found this to be very helpful. \u00a0Click here<\/a><\/b> to read more about this connection, And \u00a0here<\/a><\/b>, or see July 2013 in the bar to the right.<\/p>\n

    Keep in mind that physical exercise is also a potent hormone booster.<\/p>\n

    Also incidental to hormonal decline is vascular decline<\/b>, which is another serious factor to consider. \u00a0For ideas on how to reduce this risk go here<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

    Low Thyroid<\/b> 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.<\/p>\n

    Iodine from kelp is helpful for some that way. \u00a0And there are several other new nutritional formulas that may be helpful. Check with your local health food store. \u00a0If hormone replacement is required A recent article<\/a> in the\u00a0New England Journal of Medicine<\/i>\u00a0noted greater improvements in mood and brain function with Armour\u00ae Thyroid than with the more commonly prescribed Synthroid.<\/p>\n

    Low Metabolism<\/b> –\u00a0 Women often complain that they have to work harder to lose weight than their male counterparts. \u00a0Dr. Roberta Brinton of the University of Southern California noted that one reason for that is because our metabolisms may be wired a bit differently, \u201cand it may be that women are affected differently by diet and exercise than men are.\u201d Hormones, of course, both sex and thyroid also likely play a role.<\/p>\n

    More amyloid protein<\/b> in the brain \u2013 Beta amyloid is associated with a higher risk for AD. But as Dr. Craft points out<\/a><\/b>, a low glycemic (low sugar) diet and exercise may help there.<\/p>\n

    Green tea<\/a><\/b>, 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.<\/p>\n

    Surgery<\/b> –\u00a0 We have long known and noted<\/a><\/b> in Aug 2013 that at least some anesthesias could increase the risk, such as isoflurane.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

    Urinary Tract Infections<\/b> – Finally, it\u2019s important to always be on the lookout for UTI\u2019s, especially for those who have diabetes, or insulin resistance. \u00a0Cranberry juice may be of some help there, but the importance of drinking plenty of good clean water to keep the kidney\u2019s hydrated cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n

    Growing old is somewhat like walking into a mine field.\u00a0 There appears to be risk at every turn. \u00a0But fortunately, the same simple practices of a healthy diet, and exercise, and perhaps a few supplements can do much to reduce one\u2019s risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    One of the most interesting realities explored in this year\u2019s International Conference on Alzheimer\u2019s, held last month in WashingtonDC, was the fact that significantly more women develop Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> than men. \u00a0Two-thirds of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s are women.\u00a0 There is a lot of focus in this country on breast cancer prevention in women, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prevention-strategies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=900"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":901,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900\/revisions\/901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}