Women facing more systemic sexism experience a faster decline in cognition and memory than others as they age, according to a study in the United States.
- Women born in the most sexist states in the United States experience faster memory decline than those born in the least sexist states, according to a new study.
- This difference, equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging, is linked to systemic inequalities in resources and power called structural sexism.
- The study, based on the memory performance of 21,000 women and historical levels of structural sexism, shows a compounded effect for black women, who experience both sexism and racism.
The gap is still equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Women born “in the most sexist states in the United States” experience a more rapid decline in memory as they age than those born “in the least sexist states”. This is what a team of researchers from Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, reveals in a study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Structural sexism, a factor of lasting inequality
Unlike individual acts of sexism, structural sexism describes systemic inequalities in access to resources and power, stemming from social policies and societal norms. For example, discriminatory lending practices or the underrepresentation of women in politics are forms of structural sexism. Previous studies have already linked these inequalities to higher mortality rates, limited access to health care and increased risk of chronic diseases among women.
This new research is the first to study the link between structural sexism and cognitive health in women aged 65 and over. Scientists first assessed the level of structural sexism in the United States between the 1920s and 1950s, based on indicators such as male-female ratios in the workforce, the percentage of women in state legislatures and poverty rates. They then crossed this data with the memory performances of 21,000 participants from two large studies on aging.
A path to reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s
Result, “the difference between being born in the most sexist state or the least sexist state is equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging”say the researchers in a press release. The exact mechanisms linking structural sexism and cognitive decline remain unclear, but “What we know is that systemic inequalities create barriers to access to health-promoting opportunities and resources, which contribute to disparities in chronic disease and, ultimately, brain health.” .
Not surprisingly, the association between systemic sexism and memory decline is particularly striking among black women. “It is likely that, for Black women of color, the combined impact of sexism and racism creates a unique form of oppression that further impacts cognitive health.” Future studies will attempt to determine whether exposure to these inequalities during youth has long-term consequences, and which aspects of structural sexism most affect cognitive health.
One thing is certain, according to the authors: “Reducing social inequalities could be a major lever for reducing the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in women”who account for nearly two-thirds of Americans with the neurodegenerative disease.
