Alzheimer’s disease affects more women than men, a puzzle that scientists are eager to solve. By including women in research and studying their biology, we can uncover why women have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s but also discover their remarkable ability to withstand the disease. Just like a superhero with hidden powers, women possess resilience mechanisms that can delay the onset of symptoms. In this review, scientists examined the molecular mechanisms behind women’s risk and resilience in Alzheimer’s disease. They specifically focused on hormone levels, such as 17-b-estradiol (E2), which play a crucial role in cognitive and brain reserve in women. The analysis also highlighted the importance of steroid hormones and their impact on neurons and glia cells when studying risk and resilience in Alzheimer’s. Additionally, it revealed how women’s verbal memory advantage acts as a cognitive reserve factor. Furthermore, researchers speculated on E2’s potential role in linguistic experiences, like multilingualism and hearing loss, as well as the influence of hormone loss during aging on the risk for Alzheimer’s. To unlock the secrets behind women’s resilience, further research is needed to explore how steroid hormones affect neuronal and glial plasticity, ultimately shedding light on potential treatments and preventive measures for Alzheimer’s disease.

More women have Alzheimer disease (AD) than men, but the reasons for this phenomenon are still unknown. Including women in clinical research and studying their biology is key to understand not just their increased risk but also their resilience against the disease. In this sense, women are more affected by AD than men, but their reserve or resilience mechanisms might delay symptom onset. The aim of this review was to explore what is known about mechanisms underlying women’s risk and resilience in AD and identify emerging themes in this area that merit further research. We conducted a review of studies analyzing molecular mechanisms that may induce neuroplasticity in women, as well as cognitive and brain reserve. We also analyzed how the loss of steroid hormones in aging may be linked to AD. We included empirical studies with human and animal models, literature reviews as well as meta-analyses. Our search identified the importance of 17-b-estradiol (E2) as a mechanism driving cognitive and brain reserve in women. More broadly, our analysis revealed the following emerging perspectives: (1) the importance of steroid hormones and their effects on both neurons and glia for the study of risk and resilience in AD, (2) E2’s crucial role in women’s brain reserve, (3) women’s verbal memory advantage as a cognitive reserve factor, and (4) E2’s potential role in linguistic experiences such as multilingualism and hearing loss. Future directions for research include analyzing the reserve mechanisms of steroid hormones on neuronal and glial plasticity, as well as identifying the links between steroid hormone loss in aging and risk for AD.

Read Full Article (External Site)