Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor Fiona MatthewsORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
BACKGROUND: Despite rising interest in sex differences in dementia, it is unclear whether sex differences in dementia incidence and prevalence are apparent globally. OBJECTIVE: We examine sex differences in incidence and prevalence of Any dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD), and evaluate whether country-level indicators of gender inequality account for differences. METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analysis was used to obtain estimates of incidence and prevalence of Any dementia, AD, and VaD using random effects meta-analysis, and population-based studies with clinical or validated dementia measures. Meta-regression was used to evaluate how country-specific factors of life expectancy, education, and gender differences in development, unemployment, and inequality indices influenced estimates. RESULTS: We identified 205 eligible studies from 8,731 articles, representing 998,187 participants across 43 countries. There were no sex differences in the incidence of Any dementia, AD, or VaD, except in the 90+ age group (women higher). When examined by 5-year age bands, the only sex difference in prevalence of Any dementia was in the 85+ group and there was no sex difference in VaD. AD was more prevalent in women at most ages. Globally, the overall prevalence of dementia in adults 65 + was higher for women (80.22/1000, 95% CI 62.83-97.61) than men (54.86/1000, 95% CI 43.55-66.17). Meta-regression revealed that sex differences in Any dementia prevalence were associated with gender differences in life expectancy and in education. CONCLUSION: Globally, there are no sex differences in age-specific dementia incidence, but prevalence of AD is higher in women. Country-level factors like life expectancy and gender differences in education may explain variability in sex differences.
Author(s): Huque H, Eramudugolla R, Chidiac B, Ee N, Ehrenfeld L, Matthews FE, Peters R, Anstey KJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Year: 2023
Volume: 91
Issue: 4
Pages: 1231-1241
Print publication date: 14/02/2023
Online publication date: 22/12/2022
Acceptance date: 06/12/2022
Date deposited: 09/03/2023
ISSN (print): 1387-2877
ISSN (electronic): 1875-8908
Publisher: IOS Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-220724
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220724
PubMed id: 36565114
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
