Longevity & AgingWhy Alzheimer's Hits Women Harder — And Which Risk Factors Matter Most
A major UC San Diego study of over 17,000 adults reveals that women are not only more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease but are also more severely affected by common dementia risk factors than men. Researchers analyzed 13 modifiable risk factors — including hypertension, obesity, depression, and physical inactivity — and found that several showed a disproportionately stronger link to cognitive decline in women. Women had higher rates of depression, physical inactivity, and sleep problems, while cardiometabolic conditions like high blood pressure and elevated BMI hit women's cognition harder. The findings, published in Biology of Sex Differences, suggest that sex-specific prevention strategies could be a powerful tool for reducing Alzheimer's burden in women, who represent nearly two-thirds of U.S. cases.
