THURSDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Depression in women and
stroke in men are critical factors in the development of
Alzheimer's disease, French researchers report.
They analyzed data from almost 7,000 people over the age of 65
in three French cities. None of them had dementia, but about 40
percent had mild cognitive impairment at the start of the
study.
They were assessed two and four years later. Of those with mild
cognitive impairment at the start of the study, just over 6.5
percent developed dementia over the next four years, about half had
no change, and about one-third regained normal levels of cognitive
ability.
People with depression, those taking anticholinergic drugs
(which influence chemical signaling in the brain), and those with a
variation in the ApoE gene (a known risk factor for dementia) were
more likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to
dementia.
The researchers also found that risk factors varied according to
gender. Men with mild cognitive impairment were more likely to be
overweight, diabetic and to have had a stroke. Men who'd suffered a
stroke were almost three times more likely to progress from mild
cognitive impairment to dementia.
Women with mild cognitive impairment were more likely to be in
poorer general health, disabled, suffering from insomnia, and to
have a poor support network. Women with depression were twice as
likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia,
while women unable to perform routine daily tasks (which would
allow them to live without assistance) were 3.5 times more likely
to progress to dementia.
Stroke was not a risk factor for women, even though both women
and men had similar rates of stroke.
The study was published online in the
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about
Alzheimer's disease.
