Could society’s biases be damaging women’s brains? Experts weigh in
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The connection between gender and health risks has long been a topic of debate, with research continually uncovering new insights into the causes of diseases.
One recent study has brought to light a surprising factor linked to dementia in women, challenging long-held assumptions about its origins.
What they found has the potential to change the way we approach not only healthcare but also the societal structures that influence it.
Women have long been known to face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than men, with nearly two-thirds of cases in the U.S. occurring in women. This discrepancy was traditionally attributed to women living longer and genetic factors.
However, research from Columbia University Irving Medical Center pointed to a different cause: sexism. The study suggested that inequality in access to resources and power could result in damaging brain changes that heighten the risk of dementia for women.
Dr Justina Avila-Rieger, the study's lead author, stated: ‘Our findings suggest that addressing social inequities may be a powerful way to lower the burden of Alzheimer's among women.
‘What we... know is that structural inequalities shape individual health outcomes by creating barriers to health-enhancing opportunities and resources.’
The research involved data from over 21,000 participants, assessing the impact of sexism on women born in the 1920s and 30s. A ‘structural sexism’ score was calculated for each U.S. state using workforce ratios and maternal mortality rates from 1910 to 1960.
This score was then compared to dementia rates among women in these states. The results, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia, showed a strong link between higher sexism and increased dementia risk.
Women in the most sexist states experienced nine more years of cognitive decline compared to their counterparts in the least sexist regions. Mississippi ranked as the most sexist state in the 1960s, while Connecticut was the least sexist.
Dr Avila-Reiger explained: ‘It’s possible that early life exposure may be a critical period for structural inequality, with direct or indirect consequences that accumulate over time.
‘We also need to tease apart which aspects of structural sexism have the most impact on cognitive health. This is important in terms of making recommendations to policy makers.’
While the researchers didn’t propose a biological mechanism, they hypothesised that limited workplace access and other restrictions during formative years might explain these disparities.
Dementia, an umbrella term for conditions causing brain function decline, includes Alzheimer’s as its most common form. About 6.2 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer's.
Women’s longer life expectancy—averaging 80.2 years compared to men’s 74.8—was another factor considered in past studies. However, this research suggested structural sexism plays a significant role in amplifying dementia risks for women.
Other studies have noted that while dementia cases are expected to rise overall, diagnosis rates are declining, likely due to healthier lifestyles.
Harvard researchers wrote in 2022 that ‘age was the greatest risk factor’ for Alzheimer’s but acknowledged additional contributing factors. They highlighted that non-Alzheimer's dementia rates were similar between genders.
They proposed that women’s stronger immune systems might inadvertently raise the risk of amyloid beta protein plaque build-up, a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease.
Do you think addressing social inequalities could help reduce health risks like dementia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
One recent study has brought to light a surprising factor linked to dementia in women, challenging long-held assumptions about its origins.
What they found has the potential to change the way we approach not only healthcare but also the societal structures that influence it.
Women have long been known to face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than men, with nearly two-thirds of cases in the U.S. occurring in women. This discrepancy was traditionally attributed to women living longer and genetic factors.
However, research from Columbia University Irving Medical Center pointed to a different cause: sexism. The study suggested that inequality in access to resources and power could result in damaging brain changes that heighten the risk of dementia for women.
Dr Justina Avila-Rieger, the study's lead author, stated: ‘Our findings suggest that addressing social inequities may be a powerful way to lower the burden of Alzheimer's among women.
‘What we... know is that structural inequalities shape individual health outcomes by creating barriers to health-enhancing opportunities and resources.’
The research involved data from over 21,000 participants, assessing the impact of sexism on women born in the 1920s and 30s. A ‘structural sexism’ score was calculated for each U.S. state using workforce ratios and maternal mortality rates from 1910 to 1960.
This score was then compared to dementia rates among women in these states. The results, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia, showed a strong link between higher sexism and increased dementia risk.
Women in the most sexist states experienced nine more years of cognitive decline compared to their counterparts in the least sexist regions. Mississippi ranked as the most sexist state in the 1960s, while Connecticut was the least sexist.
Dr Avila-Reiger explained: ‘It’s possible that early life exposure may be a critical period for structural inequality, with direct or indirect consequences that accumulate over time.
‘We also need to tease apart which aspects of structural sexism have the most impact on cognitive health. This is important in terms of making recommendations to policy makers.’
While the researchers didn’t propose a biological mechanism, they hypothesised that limited workplace access and other restrictions during formative years might explain these disparities.
Dementia, an umbrella term for conditions causing brain function decline, includes Alzheimer’s as its most common form. About 6.2 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer's.
Women’s longer life expectancy—averaging 80.2 years compared to men’s 74.8—was another factor considered in past studies. However, this research suggested structural sexism plays a significant role in amplifying dementia risks for women.
Other studies have noted that while dementia cases are expected to rise overall, diagnosis rates are declining, likely due to healthier lifestyles.
Harvard researchers wrote in 2022 that ‘age was the greatest risk factor’ for Alzheimer’s but acknowledged additional contributing factors. They highlighted that non-Alzheimer's dementia rates were similar between genders.
They proposed that women’s stronger immune systems might inadvertently raise the risk of amyloid beta protein plaque build-up, a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease.
Do you think addressing social inequalities could help reduce health risks like dementia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
