2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)

Examining vascular risk and menopausal age on women’s increased risk for AD

Why are women of Asian descent more susceptible to Alzheimer’s?

Jennifer Rabin, Ph.D.
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Toronto, Canada

Background

According to the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association Facts & Figures report, of the more than 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s, nearly two-thirds are women. Additionally, studies have shown that women of Asian descent are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to White Americans. However, the primary drivers of this difference are unknown. 

Research has shown that menopause may be associated with vascular (blood vessel) damage and this potential link may impact an individual’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s in women. Dr. Jennifer Rabin and colleagues will study the interplay between menopause and vascular damage and how it could impact the development of Alzheimer’s in women of Asian descent.

Research Plan

Dr. Rabin and team will recruit over 300 individuals of Asian descent aged 55-85 years old for their studies, with two-thirds of the individuals being women. They will measure vascular disease risk and cognitive function for all individuals in the study as well as a reproductive health assessment for female participants. The team will use this information to examine the impact of vascular disease and sex differences on Alzheimer’s risk.

Impact

The results of this study may help inform our understanding of sex differences in Alzheimer’s risk in women of Asian descent. The results could also be used to design future intervention strategies to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in this specific population.