Scientists are still unraveling why Alzheimer’s disease affects men and women disproportionately. Out of the 5 million Americans who have it, about 64 percent are women.
Once in their 60s, women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than breast cancer, and more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as their male counterparts. And when women develop the disease, the effects can be more dire than they are on men. One study found that the disease progressed twice as quickly in women, cutting their life spans even shorter from when they were diagnosed with the disease.
But the reason why women are disproportionately affected by the disease is complicated. And scientists still have miles to go before they fully understand why the disease is so widespread among senior women, and how women can best prevent getting Alzheimer’s.
Why Is Alzheimer's More Common in Females?
The most damning factor in Alzheimer’s development is your age – as you get older, your risk of developing it increases. Since women are estimated to live longer than men, scientists think this could be one simple reason why they are more likely to contract the disease – especially since men die more often of heart conditions in their 50s and 60s.
