Recalibrating narratives of gender differences in ADRD research: Lessons and opportunities from the Global South

Abstract

AbstractSex and gender differences in brain health and cognitive decline are increasingly visible as we grapple with the profound impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). However, the conventional narratives of sex and gender differences in ADRD research are often grounded in mainstream Global North cultural values. Despite its manifestation, the indigenous and non‐western concepts of sex and gender and the intersecting narratives of social vulnerability remain largely unexplored. Accurate characterization of sex and gender differences in ADRD must include narratives evident in high‐incidence populations or regions beyond the Global North. A full account of sex and gender differences in ADRD requires changing the narrative to interweave critical approaches. Specifically, it requires that we systematically examine how to reframe, repair, or otherwise change narratives about sex and gender differences in AD/ADRD research that do not reflect the experiences of people in the Global South. The talk will serve as a resource and a call to action regarding how one can produce and critically consume knowledge that affirms and represents all experiences ‐ including indigenous people and people in the Global South. Further, it will foster innovative approaches to empirical research on sex and gender differences in AD/ADRD and help us understand current research findings in the field and their limited capacity to inform research and clinical practice outside of the Global North.