New research is shedding light on why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) than men—and it comes down to biology.
Around 944,000 people in the UK and 7 million in the US live with dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common and deadliest form.
Shockingly, two-thirds of AD diagnoses occur in women, leaving scientists searching for answers.
The Role of Sex Chromosomes in Brain Inflammation
Researchers at UCLA Health have discovered a gene on the X chromosome that appears to drive inflammation in the female brain.
Using specially bred mice with characteristics similar to Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the team found that when this gene, called Kdm6a, was “switched off,” both MS-like symptoms and neurological damage improved—especially in females.
The reason? Women carry two X chromosomes, effectively giving them a “double dose” of this inflammation compared to men, who have only one X chromosome
. This discovery provides a potential explanation for why both Alzheimer’s and MS affect women two to three times more often than men.
Metformin Shows Promise as a Treatment
In an exciting twist, the diabetes drug Metformin—prescribed more than 26 million times in England in 2024—was able to suppress the Kdm6a gene and its inflammatory molecules in the study.
Lead researcher Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl explained that this finding could eventually lead to treatments targeting inflammation in women’s brains, and may even help with the “brain fog” experienced by two-thirds of women during menopause.
“This is consistent with there being ‘more to block’ in females due to having two copies of the X-linked gene,” Dr. Voskuhl said.
“It’s also why women are more likely to get MS and AD than men.
Women may respond differently to treatments like Metformin, which opens new avenues for personalized care.”
Lifestyle Changes Still Matter
While no cure exists for dementia, early detection allows doctors to create tailored treatment plans that can slow disease progression.
Last year, a landmark study suggested nearly half of all Alzheimer’s cases could potentially be prevented by addressing 14 lifestyle factors, giving hope that this devastating condition can be managed before it takes hold.
Sedentary Lifestyles and Global Impact
The risks are compounded by modern sedentary habits.
In the UK, long workdays spent at desks, hours commuting, and evenings in front of the TV contribute to thousands of deaths each year.
Estimates suggest inactivity kills around 70,000 people annually in the UK alone, costing the NHS £700 million in treatments.
Globally, the World Health Organization places deaths from physical inactivity at around 2 million per year, making it one of the leading contributors to death and disability worldwide.
Looking Ahead
Understanding the genetic and lifestyle factors behind Alzheimer’s is a critical step in tackling the disease.
With ongoing research into genes like Kdm6a and potential treatments such as Metformin, scientists are beginning to unravel why women are disproportionately affected—and offering hope for interventions that could protect millions from the devastating effects of dementia.