Women and Alzheimer's: Latest findings, facts and figures we ALL need to know.

It is often thought that Alzheimer's disease is indiscriminate of age, race and gender.  Recent research, however, is showing that more women are diagnosed with the disease than men.  According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the US.  Although there is no cure, the latest research focused on identifying, understanding and, ultimately proposing new ways of treatment and management, provide encouraging results. As of November, 2017:

• Researchers at the Boston School of Medicine are formulating a new model of the anatomy of the disease. 
• Close collaborations between researchers at the EPFL (ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE) and Rockefeller University have led to the discovery of a new toxic protein that affects the brain; providing an insight on how it ultimately attacks healthy neurons in brain tissue.  
• Scientists at the University of Twente have developed new optical technology that allows patients to visualize the disease. 
• Researchers at Purdue University are finding new ways to diagnose Alzheimer's disease based on the identification of biomarkers that detect high concentrations of proteins from a small blood sample; making the diagnosis process more efficient.
• Continuous efforts  at the Allen Institute for Brain Science to fully understand the pathology of Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive disorders --such as dementia-- and how it relates to the aging brain, creates an atlterative approach to manage the disease.  

By dissecting every aspect of Alzheimer's disease, researchers can inch towards creating new ways to treat and manage this devastating illness.  It all starts with learning about the basics. In support of Alzheimer's awareness month, a summary of the most relevant statistics below.

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About the Doris A. Howell Foundation:

The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community.

The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community.

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Summary prepared by Carolyn Northrup with information from the following sources: 

http://www.alzheimers.net/2014-03-19/women-at-higher-risk-for-alzheimers/

http://mybrain.alz.org/alzheimers-facts.asp

http://www.nextavenue.org/why-women-get-alzheimers-more-often-than-men/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/alzheimer's/

Image Credit: Check Marks from Vector.me (by Designious.com)

Images from Shutterstock licensed to Carolyn Northrup