A new study has found that men at risk of heart disease have a faster decline in mental health than women.
The study, published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, found that men’s brains become less active in their mid-50s, while women’s brains start to become less active in their mid-60s and beyond.
Research team leader Paul Addison said the findings suggest that reducing the risk of heart disease is an important treatment target in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
He added that the results also indicate that men should be given more attention in this regard a decade earlier than women.
The researchers said that risk factors for heart disease such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and smoking have already been linked to a higher risk of dementia.
However, it is not clear when these heart diseases and risks begin to affect mental health, or why there is a difference between men and women in this regard.
