Why are women twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as men?
Health Why are women twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as men? Andrzej Wojcicki/Getty Images Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer July 7, 2025 7 min read Researchers focusing on chromosomes, menopause A neglected piece of the Alzheimer’s puzzle has been getting increased scientific attention: why women are twice as likely as men to develop the disease. One might be tempted to explain the disparity as a natural consequence of women living longer. But those studying the disease say that wouldn’t account for such a large difference, and they’re not precisely sure what would. While many factors may be at play, researchers are zeroing in on two where the biological differences between women and men are clear: chromosomes and menopause. Women have two X chromosomes, and men have an X and a Y. Differences between genes held on the X and Y chromosomes, researchers say, may give women an increased chance of developing Alzheimer’s. Menopause, when production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone...