Although women are supposedly more scattered than men, its the guys who have more senior moments and are likelier to forget things, according to a new study.
The research, conducted at the Mayo Alzheimers Research Center, in Rochester, Minnesota, found that 19 percent of men had mild cognitive impairment or MCI, compared with 14 percent of women in the same age group (70-89).
Mild cognitive impairment can mean, for example, that you forget someones name or where you put your glasses. But unlike someone with Alzheimers, you realize that youre forgetting things. According to Reuters, its on the spectrum between normal functioning and dementia, although dementia isnt an inevitable prelude to Alzheimers. About 15 percent of people with MCI are eventually diagnosed with Alzheimers.
The studys author, Ronald Peterson, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinics Alzheimers Research Center, told Reuters, The gender differences were somewhat surprising to us because most people believe that women are at higher risk [forgetfulness] than men.
People of either gender who were not educated or married had a slightly higher risk of MCI.
Although there isnt any way of treating MCI medically, Peterson suggested to Reuters that lifestyle changes could help. He recommended socializing with friends and family, reading and going to the movies as well as exercise and a healthy diet.
