Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

Why Women Face Higher Alzheimer’s Risk (And The One Thing That Lowers It) | Dr Tommy Wood

Jan 19, 2026

Dr. Tommy Wood, a researcher focused on brain health, explores the striking fact that two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women. He highlights how societal roles and lack of mental stimulation may worsen cognitive decline. Tommy discusses improvements in nutrition and heart health contributing to decreased dementia risk over the years. He emphasizes the protective benefits of complex environments—like engaging jobs and education—in maintaining cognition into older age. His insights suggest that changing women’s societal roles may positively impact dementia outcomes.

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INSIGHT

Women Bear More Alzheimer's Cases

Around two-thirds of Alzheimer's cases are women while vascular dementia is about equal between sexes.
Age-specific dementia risk has declined over decades due to factors like better nutrition and heart care.

ADVICE

Actively Stimulate Your Mind

Keep your mind stimulated through new tasks, learning, and social engagement to protect cognitive health.
Pursue education, complex work, or mentally demanding hobbies to build lasting cognitive resilience.

INSIGHT

Education And Work Lower Dementia Risk

Women's increased access to education and complex jobs since the 1960s likely reduced their dementia risk.
Cognitive test performance improved as women entered more stimulating roles outside the home.

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Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU

Are women at higher risk of Alzheimer’s, and can life roles influence dementia risk? This clip explores why two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are in women, how vascular dementia differs, and how age-specific dementia risk has fallen over recent decades. We discuss factors like improved nutrition, better heart health care, and environmental complexity, jobs, education, and social engagement, linked to maintaining cognition into our 80s. A long-running study found lower environmental complexity, common among midcentury housewives, tracked with greater decline. We also touch on the importance of keeping the mind stimulated.

Dr Tommy Wood in conversation with Sarah Ann

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