New studies link menopause timing, hormones, and lifestyle to Alzheimer's risk in Canadian women
By 2050, more than 1.7 million Canadians are projected to be living with dementia — a 187 percent increase from 2020, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s report The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada.
Women will account for over 1 million of those cases, representing a continued gender gap that experts say demands urgent attention.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada said that women already represent nearly two-thirds of people living with dementia in the country, a figure echoed by Statistics Canada’s most recent counts.
While age remains a strong risk factor, scientists now point to additional biological and sociological influences — from hormonal shifts to systemic inequities — that make women more susceptible to Alzheimer’s.
At the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, Gillian Einstein of the Canadian Consortium on Degeneration and Aging said research is at an “inflection point” with more sessions dedicated to sex differences in brain health.
Data from the UK Biobank show that a longer reproductive period and having one to three children lower late-life Alzheimer’s risk, while premature menopause (before 40) or early menopause (ages 40–44) raise it.
Walter Rocca of the Mayo Clinic said affected women should receive tailored hormone therapy, such as estrogen in pills, patches, gels, or creams, which has shown neuroprotective effects.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada’s report also warns that dementia will increasingly affect diverse communities.
By 2050, cases among Canadians of Indigenous ancestry are expected to rise by 273 percent, those of Asian origin will make up nearly one in four new diagnoses, and cases among people of African ancestry are projected to climb by 507 percent.
The report stresses that services and supports must address structural barriers and social determinants of health to ensure equitable access to care and prevention tools.
Research gaps remain, particularly in how women are represented in clinical trials.
Natasha Rajah, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at Toronto Metropolitan University, is leading the Canadian Brain Health at Midlife and Menopause study (BHAMM) to detect early disease markers through brain scans and blood tests.
She said the project aims to include a more diverse participant pool, noting that Alzheimer’s research in Canada and the US has often lacked racial and cultural representation.
Lifestyle changes are also emerging as a practical prevention tool.
According to research presented by Jessica Langbaum of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, a structured program combining a diet rich in leafy greens, berries, and grains, regular moderate exercise, and consistent social interaction slowed cognitive decline in at-risk adults aged 60–70.
The study, funded by the American Alzheimer’s Association, found that structured intervention yielded the strongest results, though self-directed participants also improved.
