Measuring Sex and Gender in Aging and Alzheimer’s Research: Results of a National Survey

Abstract Objective Differences between men and women are common in published research on aging and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). What do these differences mean? To answer this, rigorous measurement is needed. We investigated current methods for measuring sex/gender in aging and AD/ADRD cohort studies. Method An online survey was sent to NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) (n=38) and investigator-initiated cohort studies (n=38) to assess practices around enrollment of men and women and measurement of sex and gender. Results The response rate was 65.8% (n=50). All enrolled men and all but two investigator-initiated studies enrolled women. Most cohorts (43/50) had no documented definitions for categories of “men” or “women”. Over 85% of cohorts relied solely on self-report questions to capture sex/gender data (n=43/50). Issues with administration were also identified (n=7). Discussion Our findings identify gaps in current approaches used to measure sex and gender in aging and AD/ADRD research. We discuss opportunities to bridge these gaps and advance measurement of sex and gender in aging and AD/ADRD research. Changes are needed to ensure inclusion and representation of sociocultural diversity in research samples, and consistency in data collection in aging and AD/ADRD research.

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The puzzle of sex, gender and Alzheimer’s disease: Why are women more often affected than men?

Women s Health ◽

10.1177/1745506518817995 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 174550651881799 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Melissa K Andrew ◽

Mary C Tierney

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Dementia Research ◽

And Gender ◽

Gender Influences ◽

Sex And Gender Differences ◽

Biological Differences

Objective: There are impressive differences in the incidence, prevalence and experience of women and men with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Notably, two-thirds of those with AD, the most common form of dementia, are women. Our objective was to provide a literature-based framework to understand these sex and gender differences in AD. Methods: We conducted a narrative review to examine sex and gender influences on AD. Results: We present a framework to understanding why these sex and gender differences exist in AD. This includes the influence of longevity (women live longer than men), biological differences (hormonal differences, epigenetics and frailty), differences in cognitive performance (women and men tend to perform differently on some cognitive tests), and gendered social roles and opportunities (educational and occupational opportunities, functional roles post-retirement). Our review clearly indicates the complex interaction of these sex and gender differences and variability within each. Conclusions: Given these important sex and gender differences in AD, we provide recommendations and steps forward describing how both sex and gender should be considered in dementia diagnosis and management and in the design and implementation of dementia research, including studies of caregiving interventions and models of dementia care.

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Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer’s disease: current challenges and implications for clinical practice

European Journal of Neurology ◽

10.1111/ene.14174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 928-943 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. T. Ferretti ◽

J. Martinkova ◽

E. Biskup ◽

T. Benke ◽

G. Gialdini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

And Gender ◽

Sex And Gender Differences

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Science Runs and the Debate Brakes: Somatic Gene-Editing as a New Tool for Gender-Specific Medicine in Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10070421 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 421 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pamela Tozzo ◽

Silvia Zullo ◽

Luciana Caenazzo

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Gender Equity ◽

Gene Editing ◽

Gender Diversity ◽

Sex And Gender ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Genetic Level ◽

And Gender ◽

Gender Specific

Gender-specific medicine is a discipline that studies the influence of sex and gender on physiology, pathophysiology, and diseases. One example in light of how a genetic-based disease among other diseases, that impact on sex, can be represented by the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The question that comes into focus is whether gene-editing can represent a new line of investigation to be explored in the development of personalized, gender-specific medicine that guarantees gender equity in health policies. This article aims to discuss the relevance of adopting a gender-specific focus on gene-editing research, considered as a way of contributing to the advance of medicine’s understanding, treatment, and prevention of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. The development or improvement of cures could take advantage of the knowledge of the gender diversity in order to ascertain and develop differential interventions also at the genetic level between women and men, and this deserves special attention and deep ethical reflection.

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