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Raising daughters could reduce the risk of dementia.
Scientists have found older parents with daughters have sharper minds and better memories than those who have sons.
They believe this is because daughters tend to give better emotional support to parents which reduces their social isolation – a major risk factor for the incurable condition.
Nearly one million people in the UK have dementia and it is the country’s biggest killer, claiming more than 75,000 lives a year.
Loneliness and lack of family support are known to add to the risks.
Researchers at Hohai University in China analysed data on the cognitive function of hundreds of older people who took part in a health study in 2018.
Declining cognitive ability is a warning sign dementia could be on its way. Key signs include difficulty processing information, poor attention span and fading memory.
The study analysed brain activity data from elderly parents and compared how many sons and daughters they had.
Scientists believe daughters tend to give better emotional support to parents which reduces their social isolation – a major risk factor for the incurable condition (stock photo)
Loneliness and lack of family support are known to add to the risks of dementia (stock photo)
Findings published in the Journal of Women and Ageing found older parents who raised daughters rather than sons scored significantly higher for brain health.
And the greatest benefits were seen in families with just one daughter, possibly because there is greater continuity of care.
The researchers said: ‘Daughters improve their parents’ cognitive level by providing relatively more emotional support.
‘And the effect on ageing mothers’ cognitive abilities is stronger than that on the ageing father.’
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
The findings come as the Daily Mail has partnered with Alzheimer’s Society in a drive to beat dementia. The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
The NHS aims to identify at least two in three people living with the disease so they can get the help and treatment they need.
But rates collapsed during the pandemic and have never recovered, leaving tens of thousands to struggle alone.
Last week researchers suggested life-changing treatments for the disease could emerge in the next five to ten years – and it could even be cured.
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘I’m very optimistic that in the short term we will have treatments that can meaningfully slow or stop disease progression.
‘In the long term we should be able to prevent dementia entirely and hopefully we’ll get to a cure.’
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How bringing up daughters could help protect you from dementia