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Age at First Childbirth and Dementia Risk: A Cross‐Sectional Ecological Analysis of Female Prevalence, Sex Disparities, and Public Health Implications
Wenpeng You. Health Science Reports, 2025-08-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
= 126). Subgroup analyses revealed stronger associations in LMICs than in high-income countries. Economic affluence was positively associated with both later age at first childbirth and higher female dementia prevalence. Other variables, such as ageing and genetic predisposition, also showed independent associations. Delayed age at first childbirth is significantly associated with higher female dementia prevalence and sex disparities, particularly in LMICs. These findings highlight the need for individual-level, longitudinal studies to explore potential causal pathways and to inform sex-sensitive public health strategies for dementia prevention across diverse global contexts.
Key findings
- Subgroup analyses revealed stronger associations in LMICs than in high-income countries.
- Economic affluence was positively associated with both later age at first childbirth and higher female dementia prevalence.
- Other variables, such as ageing and genetic predisposition, also showed independent associations.
- Delayed age at first childbirth is significantly associated with higher female dementia prevalence and sex disparities, particularly in LMICs.
- These findings highlight the need for individual-level, longitudinal studies to explore potential causal pathways and to inform sex-sensitive public health strategies for dementia prevention across diverse global contexts.
Why it matters
This ecological analysis found that delayed age at first childbirth is associated with higher female dementia prevalence and sex disparities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It does not test any treatment or cure, and the authors call for individual-level longitudinal studies to explore potential causal pathways.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Health Science Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Health Science Reports: journal h-index 46 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Wenpeng You: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Adelaide: institution h-index 918 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40777762) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
You, W. (2025). Age at First Childbirth and Dementia Risk: A Cross‐Sectional Ecological Analysis of Female Prevalence, Sex Disparities, and Public Health Implications. Health Science Reports. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71145
Vancouver
You W. Age at First Childbirth and Dementia Risk: A Cross‐Sectional Ecological Analysis of Female Prevalence, Sex Disparities, and Public Health Implications. Health Science Reports. 2025. doi:10.1002/hsr2.71145. PMID: 40777762.
BibTeX
@article{you2025-40777762,
author = {You, Wenpeng},
title = {{Age at First Childbirth and Dementia Risk: A Cross‐Sectional Ecological Analysis of Female Prevalence, Sex Disparities, and Public Health Implications}},
journal = {Health Science Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/hsr2.71145},
pmid = {40777762},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71145}
}
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