title: Sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  More women have Alzheimer's disease (AD) than men. Understanding sex differences in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may further knowledge of AD etiology and prevention. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of MCI, which included amnestic and non-amnestic subtypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic searches were performed in July 2015 using MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO for population-or community-based studies with MCI data for men and women. Random-effects model were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six studies were included. There were no statistically significant sex differences in prevalence or incidence of amnestic MCI. There was a significantly higher prevalence (p=0.038), but not incidence, of non-amnestic MCI among women. There were no sex differences in studies that combined both subtypes of MCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only statistically significant finding emerging from this study was that women have a higher prevalence of non-amnestic MCI. To better understand sex differences in the preclinical stages of dementia, studies must better characterize the etiology of the cognitive impairment.
authors: Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Au
authors: Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.
authors: Sydney
authors: S
authors: Dale-McGrath
authors: Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: mary.tierney@sunnybrook.ca.
authors: Mary C
authors: MC
authors: Tierney
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Epidemiology; Meta-analysis; Mild cognitive impairment; Sex differences