Impact of Gender Differences on the Outcome of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background and Aims: Since little is known about the role of gender in the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a prospective epidemiological study was conducted to detect gender differences in relation to AD evolution and outcome. Methods: Six hundred AD patients, 214 men and 386 women, first seen b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 2010-09, Vol.30 (2), p.147-154
Main Authors: Sinforiani, E., Citterio, A., Zucchella, C., Bono, G., Corbetta, S., Merlo, P., Mauri, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living - psychology
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis
Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy
Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology
Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Cholinesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Female
Frail Elderly - psychology
Humans
Intelligence Tests
Italy
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neurology
Original Research Article
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Survival Analysis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system
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Summary:Background and Aims: Since little is known about the role of gender in the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a prospective epidemiological study was conducted to detect gender differences in relation to AD evolution and outcome. Methods: Six hundred AD patients, 214 men and 386 women, first seen between September 2000 and December 2003, were enrolled; the follow-up period lasted until December 2008. Results: The men had greater comorbidity and higher mortality than the women, who instead recorded more disability and longer survival. Survival curves showed that women reach partial loss of autonomy faster than men. Higher Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores at baseline showed a predictive value for loss of autonomy regardless of gender. Pharmacological treatment seems to have a protective role on disability and mortality. Conclusions: Gender influences disease evolution not only directly but also through other factors such as comorbidity.
ISSN:1420-8008
1421-9824
DOI:10.1159/000318842