One thing that is known at this point is that Alzheimer’s affects more women than men. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2020 Facts and Figures report, almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women.

While there is no evidence showing that women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease at any given age over men, one of the reasons Alzheimer’s is more prevalent in women is that females on average live longer than their male counterparts.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women’s life expectancy is around 81 years old, while men’s is 76 years old. This means that by age 65, women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s due to their longer lifespan.  In fact, 1 in 6 women in their 60s has a chance of getting Alzheimer’s over the remainder of her life, while for men that figure is 1 in 11.

There can be behavioral differences among men and women who are living with Alzheimer’s as well, which can affect the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease among the genders. The brain structures of men and women has been proven to be different, so this may explain the different behavioral changes associated with the disease. Men are more likely to express themselves through aggressive actions at their caregivers.  Women can exhibit these behavioral expressions, too, but men are generally stronger and can be more physical.

However, men and women both express similar fears about Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2014 poll by the Alzheimer’s Association, responders were asked what scared them the most about getting Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed that both men and women were most concerned about becoming a burden on their families (19% women, 17% men) and the fact that they could forget their loved ones (19% women, 16% men), among other similar answers.  In general, people age 60 or older fear developing Alzheimer’s disease more than other chronic conditions like cancer or heart disease.

source: American Seniors Community

https://www.asccare.com/does-alzheimers-disease-affect-men-and-women-differently-updated/