caregiver helps woman in wheelchair

Women are more likely than men to struggle with activities of daily living as they age, according to analysis of longitudinal cohort studies by researchers in France and Great Britain.

The international study conducted by University College London and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France looked at data from more than 27,000 men and 34,000 women between the ages of 50 and 100 to examine sex differences in daily activity and mobility limitations. The study covered residents from 14 countries, born between 1895 and 1960. 

Overall, the researchers found that women were more likely than men to be limited in their functional capacity as they got older. From age 75, women were more likely to have three or more mobility issues such as trouble using stairs, lifting groceries or extending their arms. They also had more trouble performing daily tasks such as managing money, using the telephone, taking medication or making meals. After the age of 85, the prevalence of three or more mobility limitations was 10% higher in women than in men.

“This is an important observation because mobility limitations can precede other more severe limitations and targeting these gaps at middle age could be one way to reduce sex differences in limitations at older ages,” lead author Mikaela Bloomberg, PhD Candidate, UCL Epidemiology and Public Health, said.

The researchers also found that performance disparities steadily decreased as the socioeconomic gap between the sexes decreased. They said factors such as education and entrance into the workforce could be partly attributed to the differences because low education and unpaid labor disproportionately expose women to health risks that can lead to disability. 

The authors called the findings significant from a policy perspective because they highlight the importance of gender equity in education and employment for health outcomes in old age.