New Study Reveals Gender Differences in Recollection of Family Alzheimer's History

Researchers from Yale School of Medicine have found notable differences between men and women in how they recall and report their family history of Alzheimer's disease. Their comprehensive analysis indicates that socioeconomic factors and individual cognitive abilities can influence the accuracy of family history information reported in large-scale studies. Alzheimer's disease, a devastating neurodegenerative condition, poses increasing challenges globally as populations age. Accurate knowledge of family history is crucial for early risk assessment and research efforts aimed at prevention and intervention.

The study utilized clinical and genetic data from over 650,000 participants across two national biobanks. Results suggested that disparities linked to socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and cognitive function may contribute to the variations observed between sexes in reporting family histories. For example, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds might have less access to medical diagnosis, leading to potential underreporting or misclassification of parental Alzheimer's cases. Additionally, recall bias could be more prevalent among those experiencing cognitive decline.

The findings highlight the importance of considering these confounding factors when using self-reported family history for clinical and research purposes. Recognizing sex-specific influences and socioeconomic disparities could improve the accuracy of risk assessments and support more tailored approaches in Alzheimer's research. The authors emphasize that strategies to mitigate biases are essential for enhancing the reliability of family history data, ultimately aiding in better understanding and management of the disease.

Published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, this research underscores the complex interplay between biological, social, and cognitive factors affecting disease reporting. It calls for a careful evaluation of family history data and suggests that future studies should account for these variables to improve diagnostic and predictive accuracy.

For more details, please refer to the full study: DOI: 10.1002/alz.70215. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-scientists-uncover-sex-differences-recalling.html