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Women develop dementia at significantly higher rates than men, according to a sweeping meta-analysis of 22 cohorts across 18 countries. The study also found that low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionately higher burden. By 2050, new global dementia cases could nearly double to 24.7 million annually.
A large-scale global meta-analysis published in JAMA Neurology reveals that women develop dementia at meaningfully higher age-standardized rates than men — and the gap is even wider in lower-income countries. The study drew on harmonized data from 38,418 adults across 22 population-based cohorts spanning 18 countries and six continents, with follow-up through 2021.
Over the study period, 3,001 participants developed dementia. The findings point to significant disparities not just by sex, but also by geography — with Latin America and Asia showing the highest regional incidence rates. Researchers warn that without targeted interventions, the global dementia burden could more than double by mid-century.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings underscore the urgent need for sex-specific and income-sensitive dementia prevention strategies. Women and people in under-resourced settings face the steepest risks, yet often have the least access to diagnostic and care services — making equitable investment in brain health a global priority.
