Men are affected by memory loss earlier than women, according to a study. Why does it happen and what can we do to stave it off?
'This type of decline happens in other organs of the body, so why shouldn’t it happen with the brain?' Photo: ALAMY
10:33AM GMT 17 Mar 2015
Men over 40 have worse memories than women of the same age, according to a study carried out by American scientists.
The research showed that the hippocampus area of the brain, which is key to memory storage, normally began shrinking from the age of 30 in both sexes, but tended to decline more rapidly in men.
Dr Clifford Jack Jr. of the Mayo Clinic and Foundation in Minnesota said it was still unclear why this was, but might be because the female hormone oestrogen protects women’s brains from neuron damage until later in life.
The study - of 1,246 people between the ages of 30 and 95 - also showed that memory lapses are felt by everyone once they reach middle age, and those who experience them should not necessarily worry about the onset of dementia.
“A decline in memory is something that happens to everyone,” Dr Jack said.
“This type of decline happens in other organs of the body, so why shouldn’t it happen with the brain?”
Another academic said the study would help with our understanding of dementia.
Dr Charles DeCarli of the University of California at Davis, Sacramento, said: "Understanding the basic biology of these early processes are likely to substantially inform us about ways in which we can maintain cognitive health and optimise resistance to late-life dementia."
In common with previous studies, this new research found that men had lower average scores than women on verbal mental tests even as teenagers. Women tended to keep the advantage in this area until they went through the menopause or hit their 50s.
Previous studies have suggested Champagne, cups of cocoa and learning another language could help stave off memory loss.
Others have put forward regular exercise or even “a sharp pinch” as the secret to enjoying total recall even into later life.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/11476932/Why-men-lose-their-memory-younger-than-women.html
Another academic said the study would help with our understanding of dementia.
Dr Charles DeCarli of the University of California at Davis, Sacramento, said: "Understanding the basic biology of these early processes are likely to substantially inform us about ways in which we can maintain cognitive health and optimise resistance to late-life dementia."
In common with previous studies, this new research found that men had lower average scores than women on verbal mental tests even as teenagers. Women tended to keep the advantage in this area until they went through the menopause or hit their 50s.
Previous studies have suggested Champagne, cups of cocoa and learning another language could help stave off memory loss.
Others have put forward regular exercise or even “a sharp pinch” as the secret to enjoying total recall even into later life.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/11476932/Why-men-lose-their-memory-younger-than-women.html
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