Women and Dementia: A Global Research Review

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to understand the main issues affecting women in relation to dementia from an international perspective. The report examines the effect of gender on three specific groups: women living with dementia; woman caring for people with dementia in a professional caring role; women undertaking an informal caregiving role for someone with dementia. The report also focuses on cross-cutting issues, including factors affecting women in low and middle income countries (LMICs); family structures and kinship; and the effects of migration. This report reviews the published English language research literature on the issues affecting women in relation to dementia from an international perspective. Women make up a larger proportion of the older population. In 2014, women accounted for 62 per cent of people aged over 80. Population ageing is particularly rapid in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. The prevalence of dementia worldwide is increasing. By 2050 over 71% of people with dementia will live in LMICs. The impact on women will be greater than for men.