Promoting Inclusion of Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research

It is estimated that more than three million older adults aged 60+ in the U.S. identify as a sexual and gender minority (SGM) or lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender or gender non‐binary, queer, intersex, asexual, and people with a gender identity, gender expression, or reproductive development that varies from traditional, societal, cultural, or physiological norms. SGM adults experience health disparities and many of these health disparities are risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). These risk factors include higher rates of subjective cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and depression compared to non‐SGM adults.