Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative condition best known for its characteristic memory loss, currently affects one out of every eight Americans over the age of 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Of that number, nearly two-thirds of the people diagnosed with this form of dementia – roughly 3.4 million individuals in total – are female.
With those figures in mind, a new study just published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology has revealed some daunting findings. ScienceDaily reports that, according to a team of researchers at the University of Hertfordshire in England, the disorder acts more aggressively in women.
The team was led by Keith Laws, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology and Head of Research in the School of Psychology.
"Unlike mental decline associated with normal aging, something about Alzheimer's specifically disadvantages women," Professor Law explains.
The group came to this conclusion after analyzing data from 15 published studies on the condition, noting that, across the board, men displayed a significant advantage in memory-based testing, as they were better able to perform certain "verbal and visuospatial tasks."
However, Law comments that more research is necessary to determine why Alzheimer's disease acts differently in men and women. Previous studies showed that age, education level and other factors that the Alzheimer's Association reports may influence the onset and severity of the condition couldn't account for this consistent disparity.
While researchers have not yet discovered an actual cure for this condition, studies have shown that some memory-boosting products may acts as supplements for Alzheimer's. Research has shown that curcumin, for example, may be able to increase memory retention. For information on Nutrivene Longvida Curcumin, click here.