Alzheimer's Disease Almost Twice as Common in Women Than in Men

Women comprise almost two-thirds of the 6.2 million Americans 65 or older who have Alzheimer's disease. This means Alzheimer's disease is almost twice as common in women compared to men.

According to Ernestine A. Wright, M.D., FACP, a primary care doctor and geriatrics specialist with Mercy Personal Physicians Downtown in Baltimore, one reason for the difference is that women generally live longer than men.

"Women have tend to have a stronger immune system than men, and one thing we see in Alzheimer's disease, amyloid plaques are usually formed as the brain tries to fight off infection because of a strong immune system," Dr. Wright said. "We think that because women have strong immune systems, they have a greater tendency of developing autoimmune disorders, form more amyloid plaques over time, and develop Alzheimer's disease at a greater rate than men do."

Dr. Wright added that it is important to keep the brain healthy by exercising for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week, eating healthy and getting enough sleep to rest brain cells.

View Dr. Wright's interview regarding women and Alzheimer's Disease.