As a result, women are disproportionately affected by many of the health issues associated with brain aging. Yet studies exploring brain diseases like Alzheimer’s have focused largely on men, argues Lynn Posluns, founder of the Canada-based Women’s Brain Health Initiative, a nonprofit that raises money to address that research gap.
As researchers begin to tackle questions about how aging influences women’s brains, they’re learning more about what women can do to stay “brain healthy longer,” Posluns said. The Women’s Brain Health Initiative is dedicated to educating women about brain health and combating the sense — especially prevalent among young women, Posluns said — that brain health is beyond their control. In that spirit, here are six things about brain health and aging that all women should know.