A study published in the American magazine Neurology shows that at the same stage of cognitive decline, women perform better than men on verbal memory tests. However, since these tests are used to diagnose early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, women are likely to be diagnosed later than men.
For this study, Prof. Erin Sundermann of the University of California (USA) and his colleagues followed 254 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 672 with mild cognitive impairment and 390 people without problems. from memory. All participants took verbal memory tests and had a brain scan to visualize how sugar is metabolized there (reduced metabolism is a sign of dysfunction of brain cells). The memory test consisted of repeating about 15 words just heard, then repeating them again 30 minutes later.
Women manage to compensate for changes in the brain
The results show that women performed better on tests than men because they are better able to compensate for changes in their brains with their “cognitive reserve” until the disease reaches a more advanced stage.
“If these results are confirmed, memory tests should be adjusted to account for differences between men and women in order to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease earlier in women.” concludes Dr Sundermann.
Read also :
The intestinal microbiota involved in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s: a quiz to test your knowledge