Dementia is a general term for a group of neurological conditions caused by irreversible degeneration of the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous system (Wilson et al., 2023) and characterized by the loss of memory, reasoning, language, attention, and concentration as well as behavioral changes, resulting in an impairment in daily functioning. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) introduced the classification of major neurocognitive disorder (NCD) to describe conditions that significantly impair cognitive function, aligning closely with the traditional definition of dementia (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The diagnosis of NCD in DSM-5-TR requires evidence of significant cognitive decline from a previous level of functioning in one (or more) domains, impacting daily independence and necessitating assistance with complex tasks. However, unlike the traditional definitions of dementia, the DSM-5-TR Major NCD criteria allows for a broader scope that extends beyond age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, including conditions impacting younger individuals. AD will be a central focus of this chapter because of the prominent gender differences in not only AD rates but also in risk factors, clinical trajectory, diagnostic accuracy and pathology as well as the extensive literature devoted to the gender influence in AD. We also discuss protective, lifestyle factors that not only reduce AD risk but also promote healthy aging. The limited findings thus far of the women-specific experience for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) will also be discussed herein while a comprehensive review of the unique experience of vascular dementia and movement disorder-related dementias (e.g., Parkinson’s dementia, Lewy body dementia) in women is provided in Chaps. 3 and 6, respectively.