Exploring Sex-Specific Profiles and Modifiable Risk Factors Across the Life Course in Dementia

Dementia research increasingly highlights the importance of sex and gender as key biological and social determinants shaping the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD related disorders (ADRD). While substantial evidence documents that women and men experience distinct clinical trajectories and symptomologies in conditions such as AD and Lewy body Disease, the mechanisms driving these disparities are far from fully understood. Much of the existing literature emphasizes genetic contributors or evaluates risk factors in isolation, often overlooking the complex interplay between modifiable, non-genetic exposures—such as vascular health, education, psychosocial stressors, sleep, and hormonal changes—across the diverse stages of life. Recent studies using multidisciplinary approaches are beginning to draw new links between risk exposures at critical periods and sex and gender-specific neurocognitive vulnerability, underscoring the urgent need to clarify how temporal, social, and biological dimensions interact to shape cognitive risk and resilience, and brain health more broadly.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of how modifiable risk factors and exposures across the life course intersect with sex and gender to influence cognitive decline and dementia onset, progression, and heterogeneity. We seek to address persistent gaps including differential risk profiles, underrepresented life stages, and the lack of integrative models that inform individualized dementia risk stratification or prevention. Central research questions include: How do major exposures such as metabolic syndrome, hormonal transitions (e.g., menopause, andropause), and lifestyle behaviors contribute to disparate dementia risk between sexes and gender? Can exposure windows be delineated where prevention or intervention is likely to have maximal benefit? And what are the prospects for sex-gender adapted risk assessment and early detection tools?The scope of this Research Topic embraces original and review articles, data-driven and theoretical contributions, and interdisciplinary approaches focused on adult and aging populations. While we center investigations on sex and gender-specific and modifiable risk factor interactions in dementia, we also welcome methodological innovations and global or population-based perspectives. To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Identification and validation of sex/adapted dementia risk assessment toolso Influence of vascular, metabolic, and hormonal changes on sex-specific cognitive declineo The impact of psychosocial, educational, and lifestyle determinants by sex and gendero Circadian and sleep disturbances in relation to sex-differentiated dementia progressiono Life course epidemiology and exposome-based approaches in understanding dementia risko Integration of big data and advanced analytics for sex-based dementia researcho Strategies for inclusive prevention, intervention, and health policy in line with Sustainable Development Goal referring to WHO. Topic editors: Zoe Arvanitakis, Elijah Mak Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80464/exploring-sex-specific-profiles-and-modifiable-risk-factors-across-the-life-course-in-dementia