Is Alzheimer’s disease more common in males or females?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, of the more than 5 million people 65 and older who have been diagnosed with this form of dementia, 1.8 million are male while the other 3.2 million are female. That means that nearly two-thirds of seniors in the U.S. who have Alzheimer’s are women. It’s twice as prevalent as breast cancer in females, a shocking fact considering that the rate of Alzheimer’s is expected to continue to grow rapidly as the baby boomer generation gets older.
While it’s irrefutable that the female population is more severely affected by dementia than men, the medical community is still largely baffled about the precise relationship between women and Alzheimer’s. Dr. Shirley Newell, Chief Medical Officer at Aegis Living, offers insights into this perplexing subject.
Answer: First of all, it’s been known for a long time that women are more prone to get Alzheimer’s than men. It was thought to be related to the fact that women live longer, but when they really looked at it, it turns out that people who are the equivalent age, like in their 80s, there’s really not a higher proportion of women than men.
There could be multiple reasons, and there’s been a lot of hypotheses about why more women have Alzheimer’s than men. One thing they know from the genetics standpoint is that women who carry the APOE e4 gene – and about 20 percent of the population has this in varying degrees – are more prone. There’s equal chance of men and women having this gene, but the women who carry it are much more likely to get Alzheimer’s.
They also know that certain factors make them much more vulnerable to getting the disease. It may be related to estrogen but it’s unsure just how it’s related to estrogen. Some of the trials have found that estrogen replacement by itself without progesterone actually made women more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. But then again, the timing of the estrogen is important. It’s when they get estrogen right as they go into menopause that it seems to mitigate the risk somewhat. Whereas if they take estrogen later in the course of their menopause it doesn’t really seen to help. Certain forms of estrogen certainly are worse for women, such as Premarin, which is an older form of estrogen that women used to get.
It may have to do with the way that they burn energy in their brains and the way their brain metabolism is structured. It may be related to depression, because there’s a higher percentage of women with depression than men. There’s a lot of relationships out there but no hard facts.
Answer: Women are about 60 percent of the caregivers for people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s. They tend to hold onto the people they care for longer, and it’s a challenge for them both physically and professionally. Often, they’re working women and they may have to call in more because they have emergencies that arise, they’re often late to work and they have to take time off. Many of them have to leave their careers. Often times they have children as well to take care of, so there’s a so-called “sandwich generation” – caring for their older parents as well as their younger families, so this is an additional burden.
Financially, they have more stress, especially if they’re caring for a husband who was disabled early on or at a younger age before they were in retirement. They may not have the financial resources to cope if they have to stay home and not work. And there’s the emotional burden because they’re oftentimes isolated in their homes with the people they’re caring for. They may not have community or family resources to rely on and no one to rely on for respite care. Also, just physically, they’re unable to keep up with the demands of giving full care to somebody who may need help with lifting, toileting and bathing, especially if they don’t have any additional help in the household.
Answer: Women can focus on prevention – what’s good for the heart is good for the brain. We know that adequate exercise, good nutrition and sleep are critical for avoiding diabetes and heart disease. We also know that it’s critical not to smoke and to avoid substance abuse, particularly alcohol. So these things can promote brain fitness. We also know that building up a cognitive reserve for women, especially with active lifetime learning – there are certain types of learning that are better than others – can build up a reserve so that the disease is less devastating once it is established.
Learn more about caring for a parent with dementia by visiting the Aegis Living community near you.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.
