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Sex differences in modifiable dementia risk factors: Findings from the Rush Memory and Aging Project
Jissa Martin, E Gordon, Natasha Reid, Ruth Eleanor Hubbard, David Ward. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The analytical sample comprised 1481 NCI (76.7% female) and 515 MCI (69.7% female) participants. Overall PAFs were similar for NCI (18.2%) and MCI (18.6%) subgroups, however, sex differences were evident. Males had higher PAFs than females in both NCI (42.5% vs. 25.1%) and MCI (51.5% vs. 12.4%), with differing risk factor profiles. These findings support the notion that dementia risk is modifiable after the onset of MCI and that the number of potentially preventable dementia cases may be higher in males than in females. HIGHLIGHTS: The proportion of potentially preventable dementia cases was similar for no cognitive impairment (NCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) individuals. For both cognitive states, a higher proportion of potentially preventable dementia cases was observed in males compared to females. The profiles of modifiable risk factors contributing to dementia differed between males and females. Lifestyle related risk factors were more prominent contributors to preventable dementia in males. Psychosocial risk factors, such as depression and social isolation, were important contributors in females.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Martin, J., Gordon, E., Reid, N., Hubbard, R. E., & Ward, D. (2025). Sex differences in modifiable dementia risk factors: Findings from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70506
Vancouver
Martin J, Gordon E, Reid N, Hubbard RE, Ward D. Sex differences in modifiable dementia risk factors: Findings from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70506. PMID: 40696813.
BibTeX
@article{martin2025-40696813,
author = {Martin, Jissa and Gordon, E and Reid, Natasha and Hubbard, Ruth Eleanor and Ward, David},
title = {{Sex differences in modifiable dementia risk factors: Findings from the Rush Memory and Aging Project}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70506},
pmid = {40696813},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70506}
}
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.
Key findings
- The analytical sample comprised 1481 NCI (76.7% female) and 515 MCI (69.7% female) participants.
- Overall PAFs were similar for NCI (18.2%) and MCI (18.6%) subgroups, however, sex differences were evident.
- Males had higher PAFs than females in both NCI (42.5% vs. 25.1%) and MCI (51.5% vs. 12.4%), with differing risk factor profiles.
- These findings support the notion that dementia risk is modifiable after the onset of MCI and that the number of potentially preventable dementia cases may be higher in males than in females.
- HIGHLIGHTS: The proportion of potentially preventable dementia cases was similar for no cognitive impairment (NCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) individuals.
Why it matters
This study found that the proportion of potentially preventable dementia cases was similar in people with no cognitive impairment and those with mild cognitive impairment, but that this proportion was higher in males than females, with different risk factor profiles by sex. It supports the idea that dementia risk is modifiable even after mild cognitive impairment begins, but it does not test a specific treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Effect size76.7%; 69.7%; 18.2%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author David Ward: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | The University of Queensland: institution h-index 1,516 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40696813) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
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