Well, this is depressing.
A new study suggests there’s a link between being LGBTQ+ and experiencing poorer brain health when older. This includes a higher incidence of depression, dementia, and stroke.
The study was conducted by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. They looked at 393,000 individuals. The average age was 51. The results were published in the journal Neurology.
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From all those studied, 21,091 people had a neurological disease. Of those, 11,553 people had late-life depression, 6,605 people had strokes and 2,933 people had dementia.
Overall, the older queer participants were 15% more likely to experience one of these three conditions than their straight, cis counterparts. This included a 14% higher chance of dementia and a 27% higher incidence of later-life depression.
Chronic stress and the ways we tackle it
Disparities in health between gay and straight folk are not new. Previous studies have highlighted how members of the LGBTQ+ community are significantly more likely to experience stress and depression than their straight counterparts. This is linked to the discrimination they face and dealing with a range of issues related to homophobia.
In turn, LGBTQ+ are more likely to smoke and have alcohol or substance abuse issues, which in turn bring health problems. HIV also disproportionately impacts gay and trans people, which has also been linked to health issues later in life.
“In a world that increasingly recognizes the crucial role of equitable health care, it remains concerning how little is known about the health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people,” said study author Dr Shufan Huo, at the Yale School of Medicine.
“Our study looked at this group, which has been historically underrepresented in neurological research, and found that they had an increased risk of adverse brain health outcomes.”
“Our findings underscore the need for further research focusing on the health care disparities affecting the LGBTQ+ community,” Huo continued. “Possible reasons for these disparities could include discrimination, stress, access to health care and policy and legal factors.”
Trans women 68% more likely to experience a stroke
Some of the health disparities observed were more pronounced for certain groups. For example, trans women showed a 68% greater incidence of stroke than cisgender people. The study did not explore why this might be. It sought only to identify if there were any such differences.
“These findings show that each group has distinct risk profiles, for example, because of differences in societal stigma,” Huo told CNN.
Huo also emphasized that being LGBTQ+ does not directly cause people to have strokes and dementia. It’s far more likely linked to chronic, long-term stress and anxiety (and the unhealthy things we do to tackle this).
Other studies have also found that queer people may be less likely to seek medical help , possibly as they’re wary of identifying as LGBTQ+ to doctors or discussing specific concerns.
“We cannot ignore the factors of the health care system itself,” Dr. Amir Ahuja, director of psychiatry at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, told CNN. “Numerous studies, including the (US Trans Survey), consistently show that SGM [sexual and gender minorities] populations are not always taken seriously by health care providers, and outright discrimination is common. This leads to patients not following up and tests not being done, and problems not being investigated, which can also lead to worse outcomes.”
Minimizing risk
Although some may find the study’s results dispiriting, there are things everyone can do to minimize problems later in life. Quit smoking, drink sensibly, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and do what you can to safeguard your mental health. Maintain meaningful relationships to help alleviate loneliness and isolation, and seek help or advice from medical professionals if you think something’s wrong.
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Kangol2
Good to see this shared here. The key sentence: “Possible reasons for these [health] disparities could include discrimination, stress, access to health care and policy and legal factors.” I’d assume societal homophobia and transphobia, disparate health care access, sexism and misogyny, racism, and other societal issues, all play a crucial role.
Chrisk
Give me a nice clean stroke and end it before Dementia. My Mom had it and it was BAD.
The gay community has never really been a community unless you consider bars and clubs a community. It works when you’re young. Not allot there when you age out of it though.
This is all cause and effect. Meeting people is easy in your 20s and 30s. Sex and attraction play a big part in having lovers and friends. Losing that is like losing your very identify. Isolation, loneliness, and being invisible in your own community will make you depressed. Drugs and alcohol have always been a way to cope.
gregg2010
Does our carefree youth of cigarettes, booze, drugs, poppers, and late nights finally catch up with us in our golden years? I’d like to think not.
Stefano
@chrisk : I think you’re not too far off the mark.
Stefano
@chrisk : There’s a reason dating sites and apps work so well with gay men…it’s pretty much the only way to meet other gay men when they’re alone. C’est pathétique.
inbama
A former New Yorker, I retired to the South with my then partner for health reasons. I expected the rotten politics, but here’s what I didn’t expect:
While younger gay guys in NYC avoid making eye-contact with an older man using a cane, not only do they smile and greet you here, but they’ll actually open doors for you, offer to help you up steps, etc.
The very first day you’re out working in your yard, neighbors are likely to introduce themselves, and you’ll quickly find yourself being welcomed into that “gay community” that’s so elusive in the big city.
And speaking of that community, they’re all partnered and pretty much for life. I know of only two divorces since I’ve been here.
I’d be a hypocrite to denounce the great wild time in NYC in my youth, but what’s marketed to us as “q u e e r people” isn’t the only “authentic” way to live.