Women have a higher risk of developing dementia during their lifetime, accounting for around 65% of all dementia patients. The main reason for this is thought to be due to the fact that women live longer than men on average, and the biggest risk factor for dementia is age.
Dementia is a progressive disease that impacts all aspects of life, so knowing the early warning signs can be instrumental in creating an effective care plan to promote independent living and boost confidence. Today, we’ll explore the early signs of dementia in women to help you and your loved ones prepare sufficiently.
Do women have a higher risk of dementia?
Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime, which is the most common type of dementia. However, other types, including Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia, are more common in men.
Some studies have suggested that this difference is most prevalent in women aged 80 and over. However, others have found no difference between genders, so it’s still not clear whether being a woman is relevant to how likely it is for you to develop the condition.
Sex is still an important factor when considering and understanding dementia. Men and women have different risk factors, and understanding these can help you identify potential risks before more serious symptoms develop.
Early warning signs of dementia specific to women
It’s important to remember that everyone, including men and women, can exhibit different warning signs for dementia, depending on their type of dementia and lifestyle factors. Therefore, early warning signs might not be the same for everyone.
Alzheimer’s Disease early warning signs
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia in both men and women. Early warning signs to look out for in women include:
- Memory changes
- Difficulty concentrating on daily conversations or routines
- Finding tasks that should be familiar, tricky and confusing
- Struggling to think of the right word when talking
- Mood swings
Frontotemporal dementia early warning signs
Frontotemporal dementia is less common in women, but it’s still worth knowing the warning signs. These include:
- Behavioural changes, such as acting more impulsively or overeating
- Sleep disturbances
- Language skill changes, such as speaking more slowly or using the wrong words
- Difficulties with everyday tasks due to being easily distracted
Vascular dementia early warning signs
Vascular dementia is often caused by a loss of blood flow to the brain. Most of its symptoms impact thinking and cognitive abilities, with the most common symptoms including:
- Difficulties solving simple problems
- Slower thoughts
- Finding it harder to make plans
- Confusion about time
- Getting lost easily, even in familiar surroundings
Lewy Body dementia
Lewy body dementia is caused by a build-up of abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies in the brain. It’s another form of the syndrome that affects cognitive abilities, movement and mood. Early signs to look out for are:
- Changes in thinking
- Visual hallucinations
- Sleep disturbances
- Psychiatric symptoms, like depression and anxiety
- Slow movements and tremors
Why do women experience different early signs of dementia than men?
There are several reasons why women may have separate early dementia warning signs. Women and men tend to experience life differently. This is especially true for people of older generations. These might be caused by separate biologies, educational backgrounds and gender roles. These factors can have an impact on the risk of developing dementia.
For example, men have historically been given more opportunities for learning and personal development, which often leads to lifelong mental stimulation. This can boost cognitive reserve, which helps to delay dementia in old age. However, this doesn’t explain why women are often more likely to develop young-onset dementia, too, which often occurs in a person’s 40s, 50s or 60s.
Women may also be more severely impacted by certain risk factors than men, including genes, hormonal changes and brain health.
Genetics and dementia
Genetics are the second-highest risk factor for dementia, with the ApoE4 gene making dementia risk much higher in men and women. Almost 66% of people with Alzheimer’s have at least one copy of this gene. Even though men and women are both likely to have the ApoE4 gene, its risk factor for dementia seems to be higher in women than it is in men.
The reason for this isn’t yet known, but researchers are hopeful that the answer could lead to future medicines and effective treatments for dementia.
Hormonal changes and menopause
A major contrasting factor between men and women is that the latter experiences menopause in later life, while the former doesn’t experience similar hormonal changes. Women’s sex hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone, fall dramatically during late middle age. Oestrogen brings a range of protective effects on brain health, including the ability to block some of the harmful effects of substances involved with dementia.
Women often experience menopause 10 to 20 years before dementia symptoms begin to show, which is how long it usually takes for dementia-related conditions to cause clinical symptoms.
Brain injuries and dementia
Another high-risk factor for dementia is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which is an injury caused by an external force. Women are more vulnerable to developing concussions and long-term subsequent effects on the brain, which has led some researchers to call for greater priority on concussion in women’s sport.
Research has shown that TBI can increase the risk of dementia by around 50%. It may also cause dementia to develop two or three years earlier than it might’ve done otherwise.
What to do if you notice signs of dementia?
It’s normal to be worried if you spot any worrying warning signs of dementia. The best course of action is to consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible. They’ll be able to offer reassurance and help get you an accurate diagnosis based on what you’re experiencing. Some warning signs may be indicators of other conditions or amount to nothing, so your GP can get to the bottom of what’s causing your symptoms quickly.
To diagnose dementia, your GP may need to review your family history, existing medical conditions, and symptoms before referring you to a specialist for further medical assessments.
If you’re diagnosed with dementia , it can be difficult to process and accept. However, many people continue to lead fulfilling lives despite their diagnosis. The quicker you spot the warning signs and get your diagnosis, the more treatment options there will be available to you. Both medication and complementary therapies have been shown to have beneficial effects on men and women with dementia.
Leading a healthy lifestyle can also help manage dementia symptoms. Regular exercise and a nutritious diet can help keep the mind and body healthy. Continuing stimulating dementia activities, such as crossword puzzles and reading, may also help slow the progression of symptoms. You may find dementia care at home useful, especially as symptoms progress into later stages.
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