Did you know 72% of those with Alzheimer’s are women?

New Alzheimer Society campaign aims to reduce risk through education

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month across Canada, and the focus of this year’s campaign is the group that makes up the largest segment of the population affected by this chronic neurodegenerative disease – women.

This year’s campaign aims to educate women in their 40s and older about Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, its warning signs and what the Alzheimer Society can do to help them.

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, 72 per cent of people living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. To raise awareness of the disease’s impact on the female population, this year’s campaign is called The 72%.

Age is a major reason why more women than men will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, since females on average live longer than males, the society says.

Additionally, women make up 70 per cent of those caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group: Patterns of caring for people with dementia in Canada.

In the effort to minimize the impact of the disease, the campaign has outlined risk factors women can avoid to reduce their chances of developing Alzheimer’s.

“With this campaign, we’re making Alzheimer’s disease a women’s issue,” says Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

“Women lead busy, hectic lives, often paying the price with their own health and well-being. We’re asking them to invest time in understanding the warning signs. Whether they’re concerned about getting Alzheimer’s, have just been diagnosed or are a caregiver, we want women to reach out to their local Alzheimer Society. We can support them throughout the disease.”

The Alzheimer Society estimates 747,000 Canadians – many of whom live in long-term care homes – have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and the number is expected to climb to 1.4 million by 2031.

Click here to learn more about this year’s campaign.

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