New questions about why more women than men have Alzheimer’s

Amy Shives, right, and her husband George walk their cavalier King Charles spaniel Chester in their neighborhood, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Amy Shives was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease in 2011 and has since been involved with the Alzheimer's Association. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women, and now some scientists are questioning the long-held assumption that it's just because women tend to live longer than men. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Amy Shives, right, and her husband George walk their cavalier King Charles spaniel Chester in their neighborhood, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Amy Shives was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease in 2011 and has since been involved with the Alzheimer's Association. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women, and now some scientists are questioning the long-held assumption that it's just because women tend to live longer than men. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

By Associated Press June 28, 2015 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women, and now some scientists are questioning the long-held assumption that it’s just because they tend to live longer than men.

What else may put woman at extra risk? Could it be genetics? Biological differences in how women age? Maybe even lifestyle factors?

Finding out might affect treatments or preventive care.

One worrisome hint is that research shows a notorious Alzheimer’s-related gene has a bigger impact on women than men.

“There are enough biological questions pointing to increased risk in women that we need to delve into that and find out why,” said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer for the Alzheimer’s Association.