Late-Life Depression, Dementia, and Stroke More Likely for LGBTQ+ People

Late-Life Depression, Dementia, and Stroke More Likely for LGBTQ+ People

LGBTQ+ people may have a higher risk of dementia, late-life depression, and stroke than individuals who are cisgender and straight, a new study published in Neurology suggests.

For the study, researchers reviewed data from over 350,000 adults who identified as heterosexual and cisgender, meaning their gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. They compared this information with that for about 40,000 people who were in sexual minorities — lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other diverse sexual orientations — and for about 4,000 people who were in gender minorities, meaning transgender or other diverse gender identities such as nonbinary or gender fluid.

Overall, those in sexual and gender minorities were 15 percent more likely to experience brain-related issues, such as dementia, stroke, or late-life depression, than individuals who identified as cisgender and heterosexual.

Stress Contributes to Poor Health Outcomes for LGBTQ+ People

“Much of this can be attributed to the increased stress that LGBTQ+ people experience,” which can be linked to discrimination and fear of rejection, says Billy Caceres, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the Columbia University School of Nursing in New York City. “[Depression] has been shown to increase one’s risk of dementia and stroke,” he says.

“LGBTQ+ people may also delay seeking healthcare due to fear of discrimination as well as financial concerns, which means that early signs of these negative brain outcomes, such as memory problems, can go unnoticed,” says Dr. Caceres, who wasn’t involved in the new study.

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