Gender differences in the occurance of Alzheimer's disease: A literature review

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and it is commonly believed that the risk for developing the disease is higher in women. It is also commonly believed that the higher risk is associated with women living longer. The objective of this literature review is to review recent literature in order to identify the gender differences and the association to the onset of AD. Literature will be reviewed to determine the association between age, gender and risk of the developing the disease. Methods: Searching will include the use of electronic databases, scrutinizing bibliographies and hand searching journals. Inclusion criteria will include articles if they are published after 1999 and report data that shows characteristics of gender in developing AD. Results: These studies will provide reasons for the gender difference in developing AD. The current literature will provide a foundation to guide further research into gender characteristics for AD. It is anticipated that a review of the literature will demonstrate that women are at a higher risk for developing AD. The literature review will provide a detailed account of studies that will help clarify important gender differences. Conclusion: The area of gender differences in AD provides opportunities for better intervention strategies for patients. Understanding gender differences within AD onset will help health educators, care takers and researchers promote proper prevention, ensure patient's access to essential care and spark new research exploring the risks of AD.