(NaturalHealth365)  Women account for nearly two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s diagnoses globally.  For years, scientists figured this was just because women live longer.  Others thought maybe women’s brains decline faster with age.

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences just demolished both theories.

Researchers analyzed 12,638 brain MRIs from 4,726 cognitively healthy people aged 17 to 95 – the largest longitudinal brain imaging study of its kind.  Each person had at least two scans, tracking actual brain changes over time.  The results?  Men experience greater brain decline in more regions – yet women still develop Alzheimer’s at significantly higher rates.

When scientists compared men’s and women’s brain scans, they found something unexpected

Men showed a greater decline in cortical thickness in multiple brain regions, including areas for vision, memory, and spatial processing.  They experienced more surface area loss and, in older adults, greater decline in structures regulating movement and reward.

Women showed a greater decline in only a few regions, specifically in language processing, and more fluid expansion in the brain’s ventricles.

Even accounting for men’s typically larger heads, the pattern held: men experienced more widespread brain atrophy, yet remained less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The hippocampus – your memory center and first region affected by Alzheimer’s – showed no sex differences when researchers only considered age.  But when they corrected for life expectancy, women showed greater hippocampal decline.

The researchers admit they don’t know if this reflects real biology or just that frailer men die earlier, leaving only healthier men in older age groups.

What really drives women’s Alzheimer’s risk?

According to researchers, one of the driving factors is the APOE ε4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor, which appears to accelerate tau protein buildup in women’s brains, speeding disease progression even when overall brain atrophy looks similar.

Then comes menopause – after decades of estrogen’s neuroprotective benefits, hormone levels drop sharply, leaving the brain vulnerable in a way men never experience.  Add to that diagnostic patterns and survival bias – since men are more likely to die from heart disease before an Alzheimer’s diagnosis – and the gender gap becomes clearer.

Simple steps to protect your brain naturally

Fix your metabolism: Insulin resistance is probably the most significant modifiable Alzheimer’s risk factor – researchers call it “Type 3 Diabetes.”  Get fasting insulin checked (should be under 5).  Practice intermittent fasting and cut out processed sugars.

Feed your brain right: Eat wild-caught fatty fish for omega-3 DHA and load up on wild, organic blueberries that cross into your brain and reduce damage.  Use pure extra virgin olive oil for anti-inflammatory polyphenols and ditch industrial seed oils and overly processed foods.

Balance hormones: For women, especially, it’s important to optimize hormones during and after menopause.  Herbs such as maca, ashwagandha, and black cohosh may help support natural hormone balance and protect brain health during this transition.  Pairing these with regular exercise and stress management can further promote cognitive resilience.

Detox matters: Aluminum, mercury, lead, and other toxins, along with infections, trigger brain inflammation.  Support your detox pathways and address hidden infections, including oral bacteria and Lyme.

Get your very own complete brain protection plan

Evidence shows that women face a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but the good news is that many evidence-based strategies can help protect the brain and support long-term cognitive health.

Jonathan Landsman’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Summit brings together 31 top scientists and doctors to share practical, research-backed approaches – from nutrition and hormone balancing to detoxification and lifestyle interventions – that Western medicine often overlooks.  Discover how to take control of your brain health today and the proper strategies that can make a real difference in avoiding cognitive decline.

Sources for this article include:

PNAS.org
Medicalxpress.com