Study Finds Higher Brain Health Risks for LGBTQ+ Community #

A new study has revealed that individuals in the LGBTQ+ community may face a higher risk of adverse brain health outcomes compared to straight cisgender people. The research, which involved over 393,000 adult participants, found a 15% higher risk of a composite brain health outcome, including dementia, stroke, and late-life depression.

The study aimed to address the gap in knowledge regarding the health of LGBTQ+ individuals, as previous research often had small sample sizes or lacked specific categories of sexuality and gender identity.

Key findings from the study include:

• About 10% of participants belonged to sexual or gender minority groups.
• People assigned male at birth had higher rates of late-life depression.
• Sexual minority people assigned female at birth and gender diverse people had higher rates of dementia.
• Transgender women had higher rates of stroke.

These findings suggest that each subgroup within the LGBTQ+ community has distinct risk profiles, possibly due to differences in societal stigma and other factors.

Experts emphasize that being a sexual or gender minority alone does not cause worse brain health. The increased risks likely stem from a combination of psychosocial and biological factors, including chronic stress, discrimination, and stigma, which can lead to mental health conditions and, in turn, affect brain health.

Structural inequities in access to health care and socioeconomic factors may also contribute to these disparities. Many LGBTQ+ individuals face challenges in receiving appropriate and respectful healthcare, which can lead to worse health outcomes.

To protect brain health, experts recommend:

1. Staying physically active
2. Quitting smoking
3. Working with knowledgeable health providers
4. Managing stress and cardiovascular risk factors
5. Maintaining positive and meaningful relationships

While individual efforts are important, addressing larger issues of inclusive health care and reducing discrimination is essential for long-term improvement in health outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community.