Earlier this year, the Alzheimer’s Association released their latest facts and figures. In that report, one of the most startling takeaways was that women were at a substantially higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Researchers continue to search for answers as to why women are at such a significantly higher risk over their male counterparts.

Recent findings are beginning to unravel this answer and suggest that biological, genetic and cultural influences may play a heavy role. In the past, researchers have attributed the large disparity between men and women to advanced age with the thought being men simply don’t live as long as women. However, recent research suggests that women who are 70 to 79 are twice as likely as men of the same age to develop Alzheimer’s. After 80, the risk is the same for both men and women. So what factors play a role in this disparity? Here are four reasons researchers point to:

1. Differences in cardiovascular health between men and women.  Men are at a much higher risk level to die of chronic heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes before they would develop signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Should they survive past those ailments, their robust cardiovascular system might help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Women are at a much higher risk to develop depression. Recent studies show that women have a 70 percent risk of developing depression compared to men. In a study published by the British Journal of Psychiatry, a distinct link was found between depression late in life and dementia.
3. Researchers have focused on sex-specific genetic causes particularly a gene called APOe4. Men and women have about the same percentage of carrying this gene. However, recent research suggests that the APOe4 gene confers its Alzheimer’s risk unevenly in women. A study just concluded by Stanford Medical School’s Center for Memory Disorders showed that women with the APOe4 gene are twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s disease over women who did not carry the gene.
4. Estrogen’s role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe that after menopause, when a woman’s estrogen levels drop, a series of events occur that could potentially damage the brain thus making women more susceptible to the disease.

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