Decoding the Influence of Ethnicity, Biological Sex, and Medication on Alzheimer’s Disease

Published on December 22, 2022

Imagine unraveling the secrets of Alzheimer’s disease by examining the role of ethnicity, biological sex, and medications. In a study involving over 10,000 patients, researchers investigated the differences between Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (EOAD) and Late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LOAD) in terms of pharmacological and demographic factors. By analyzing patient data collected over a five-year period, they discovered intriguing associations. For male patients, certain medications like memantine and buspirone were more likely to be linked with EOAD, while older age correlated with LOAD. Female patients who had a history of alcohol use were more likely to have EOAD. Additionally, older age, memantine treatment, being of African American ethnicity, and tobacco use were associated with LOAD in females. These findings shed light on the unique factors that may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in different populations. It underscores the importance of considering diverse variables when providing care for patients with LOAD or EOAD. As we continue to dive into these complex relationships between demographics, medications, and neurodegenerative diseases, more tailored approaches can be developed to address the disparities in care.

ObjectiveThis study investigates differences in pharmacological and demographic factors among male and female patients with Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD).MethodData are from 10,126 AD patients, 9,290 were diagnosed with LOAD, while 836 were diagnosed with EOAD. Data were collected from the Prisma Health Upstate Alzheimer’s patients’ registry between 2016 and 2021. The logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between pharmacological and demographic factors in males and females with LOAD and EOAD.ResultsIn the adjusted analysis for males, patients that were administered memantine [odd ratio (OR) = 1.588, 95% CI, 1.175–2.145, p = 0.003], and buspirone [OR = 1.971, 95% CI, 1.221–3.183, p = 0.006] were more likely to be associated with EOAD, while increasing age [OR = 0.816, 95% CI, 0.799–0.834, p < 0.001] was associated with LOAD. Female patients with a history of alcohol (ETOH) use were more likely to be associated with EOAD while increasing age [OR = 0.845, 95% CI, 0.834–0.857, p < 0.001], treatment with memantine [OR = 0.774, 95% CI, 0.627–0.956, p = 0.017], African Americans [OR = 0.621, 95% CI, 0.462–0.835, p = 0.002] and tobacco use [OR = 0.529, 95% CI, 0.424–0.660, p < 0.001] were associated with LOAD.ConclusionOur findings identified specific demographic and pharmacological factors associated with males and females with LOAD and EOAD. These findings suggest the need to develop strategies to eliminate disparity in the care of LOAD or EOAD patients.

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