Introduction: Evidence on sex differences in the risk for dementia has been mixed. The goal was to assess sex differences in the development of dementia, and in the effects of a lifestyle intervention.
Methods: Two strategies were adopted, one using combined data from three large Nordic population-based cohort studies (n = 2289), adopting dementia as outcome, and 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention (n = 1260), adopting cognitive change as outcome.
Results: There was higher risk for dementia after age 80 years in women. The positive effects of the lifestyle intervention on cognition did not significantly differ between men and women. Sex-specific analyses suggested that different vascular, lifestyle, and psychosocial risk factors are important for women and men in mid- and late-life.
Conclusion: Women had higher risk for dementia among the oldest individuals. Lifestyle interventions may be effectively implemented among older men and women.
Keywords: cohort study; dementia; lifestyle intervention; risk factors; sex differences.
© 2021 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.