Women and dementia: Gender differences in the focus of research

Women and dementia: Gender differences in the focus of research

The challenges of dealing with dementia are continually increasing. According to the University of Witten/Herdecke, women are often more severely affected than men, and there are significant differences in the course of the disease and symptoms. Therefore, a new research project called “ParGenDA” has been launched to better understand and evaluate these gender-specific aspects. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and is scheduled to last 18 months. It aims to record and clarify the needs of people with dementia and their caring relatives.

The research project involves a variety of participants, including those affected, relatives, experts and interest groups. By collecting data via questionnaires, everyday stresses as well as the emotional and social consequences of dementia are to be examined. The results of the project will be compared with existing studies in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the situation. At the end of the project, a workshop is planned that will develop a list of the ten most important questions about gender-sensitive psychosocial support. Prof. Dr. Margareta Halek from the University of Witten/Herdecke emphasizes the need to integrate gender-sensitive approaches in care.

Demographic impacts and risk factors

Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common form. This disease is the seventh leading cause of death and a significant source of disability in old age. Like Dr. Maria Teresa Ferretti, neuroscientist and expert in sex and gender medicine, explained at the ÖGN annual conference in Vienna that gender differences occur significantly in Alzheimer's disease. It is noteworthy that women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as men. The exact causes of the disease are still unclear, but specific biological mechanisms, risk factors and symptoms that differ between the sexes are being investigated.

Alzheimer's typically begins with memory loss and leads to cognitive impairments such as executive dysfunction. There are two main features that have been identified as key to the development of the disease: amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These changes can be detected years before symptoms appear. The research raises numerous questions about the biological, hormonal and socio-cultural factors that affect gender differences in dementia.

Gender-sensitive approaches in nursing

The “ParGenDA” project highlights the need to develop gender-sensitive proposals in nursing practice to take into account the specific needs of women and men. In the long term, these approaches could help to anchor gender-sensitive aspects in the training of health professions. This also happens in view of the observations of researchers such as Prof. Dr. Elke Kalbe from the University of Cologne, who deals with cognitive impairments and gender differences.

Findings from the project and associated research could lead to fundamental changes in the care and support of people with dementia. A steering group made up of those affected, relatives, experts and interest groups will accompany the process to ensure that the different perspectives are heard. This initiative represents the first step in a broader strategy that establishes gender rehabilitation steps in medical research and practice.