Consideration of sex and gender in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders from a global perspective - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2022 Dec;18(12):2707-2724.

doi: 10.1002/alz.12662. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Neelum T Aggarwal 3 4, Clara Vila-Castelar 5, Puja Agarwal 4 6, Eider M Arenaza-Urquijo 7 8 9, Benjamin Brett 10, Anna Brugulat-Serrat 7 8 9 11, Lyndsey E DuBose 12, Willem S Eikelboom 13, Jason Flatt 14, Nancy S Foldi 15 16, Sanne Franzen 13, Paola Gilsanz 17, Wei Li 18, Alison J McManus 19, Debora Melo van Lent 20 21 22, Sadaf Arefi Milani 23, C Elizabeth Shaaban 24, Shana D Stites 25, Erin Sundermann 26, Vidyani Suryadevara 27, Jean-Francoise Trani 28, Arlener D Turner 29, Jet M J Vonk 30 31, Yakeel T Quiroz 5 32, Ganesh M Babulal 33 34 35; Diversity and Disparity Professional Interest Area Sex and Gender Special Interest Group

Affiliations

Michelle M Mielke et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Sex or gender differences in the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) differ by world region, suggesting that there are potentially modifiable risk factors for intervention. However, few epidemiological or clinical ADRD studies examine sex differences; even fewer evaluate gender in the context of ADRD risk. The goals of this perspective are to: (1) provide definitions of gender, biologic sex, and sexual orientation. and the limitations of examining these as binary variables; (2) provide an overview of what is known with regard to sex and gender differences in the risk, prevention, and diagnosis of ADRD; and (3) discuss these sex and gender differences from a global, worldwide perspective. Identifying drivers of sex and gender differences in ADRD throughout the world is a first step in developing interventions unique to each geographical and sociocultural area to reduce these inequities and to ultimately reduce global ADRD risk. HIGHLIGHTS: The burden of dementia is unevenly distributed geographically and by sex and gender. Scientific advances in genetics and biomarkers challenge beliefs that sex is binary. Discrimination against women and sex and gender minority (SGM) populations contributes to cognitive decline. Sociocultural factors lead to gender inequities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) worldwide.

Keywords: Alzheimer's; ethnicity; gender; global health; risk factors, sex; sociocultural factors.

© 2022 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Mielke has consulted for Biogen, Brain Protection Company and Labcorp unrelated to this manuscript. She is a Senior Associate Editor for Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. All other authors report no conflicts of interest.

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