Exploring Maternal Health: Hapvida & Bar-Ilan University Uncover Key Influencing Factors

Alzheimer’s disease causes 60% to 70% of dementia cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. By 2050, it may impact up to 139 million people globally.

Research from 2020 published in the journal Neurology revealed that middle-aged women are nearly twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s compared to men. A study from Massachusetts General Brigham, Vanderbilt, and Stanford Universities found that having a mother with Alzheimer’s increases the risk of the disease. Additionally, earlier studies indicated that women who experienced a pregnancy with a Down syndrome fetus are five times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s later in life. These findings highlight the need to understand factors affecting maternal health.

A research team, led by Prof. Eitan Okun from Bar-Ilan University, will explore maternal factors contributing to Alzheimer’s. They aim to identify genetic markers and phenotypic patterns linked to the disease. The outcomes of this research could lead to preventive or therapeutic strategies.

Rodrigo Sardenberg, national medical research manager at Hapvida, emphasized that this collaboration boosts innovation in population health research. He noted that the expertise of the Israeli research team is crucial for the study’s success. The project combines advances in neuroscience, genetics, and epidemiology to enhance understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.