More and more we are talking about neurodegenerative diseases.
Pathologies that mainly, but not only, affect the population of the third and fourth age, but which have a particular incidence also depending on a series of genetic and even epigenetic factors. Among these, dementia, as stated by the WHO, affects 55 million people, becoming a public health priority.
Alzheimer’s disease, which represents 60% of all dementias, predominantly affects females. Data in hand, 2/3 of the population affected by this pathology is represented by women. A disease that is increasingly widespread and manifests itself earlier and earlier.
The Dr. Fausto Fantò, former Director of the Complex Geriatrics Structure and Head of the Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia (CDCD) of the AOU San Luigi Gonzaga of Orbassano, author of the book “Alzheimer is a woman”, (Voglino Editrice) presents a journey through a female disease.
With a preface by Gabriele Beccaria, the text investigates the depths of an illness that generates doubts, fears and uncertainties, offering an important contribution and support to those who, on a daily basis, find themselves facing the illness, such as family members or professional caregivers.
The book is aimed precisely at these guardian angels, full of ideas and useful insights in the management of dementia sufferers.
Few people know that Alzheimer’s “prefers pink”: the prevalence of AD is twice higher in females than in males, regardless of age and life expectancy, and mortality is approximately three times higher compared to men. Furthermore, the manifestations of the disease and its speed of development are different and more severe for females. Even if aging represents the most important “risk factor”, according to recent studies, there are other factors and/or conditions that contribute to the different development of AD in the two sexes. For example, the menopausei affective disorderssuch as depression which has a greater prevalence in females, theanxietyi sleep disorders and, in particular, insomnia, another risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Without forgetting thyroid diseasesmore frequent in women: hypothyroidism in particular is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is an example of a gender disease that Geriatrician Fantò has investigated for thirty years also as head of the Alzheimer’s Unit at Orbassano hospital. Prevention is always a weapon worth unsheathing and, in case of diagnosisalso the evaluation of the right therapy, pharmacological or otherwise.