A team from the Switzerland- based Women’s Brain Foundation, an international non-profit organisation, has collaborated with researchers from Czechia, United Kingdom and United States to explore the differences between men and women in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient journey. The researchers used an online survey that included 79 questions designed to pinpoint differences at key points: symptom onset, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care. The survey questions were developed by experts with input from people with lived experience of AD. 142 people with AD and their carers living in Germany and the US took part.
The survey found that women: 1) were less aware of lifestyle risks factor, such as sedentary behaviour; 2) had more complicated and longer diagnostic experiences; 3) more often accepted and reported greater benefit from reminiscence therapy and life story work; 4) experienced more anxiety after a first visit to a specialist and generally felt more overwhelmed than men. The researchers hope this will inform sex and gender specific strategies for AD. The article has been published here:
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/bsa3.70028