Two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women, and a new study from Northwestern University offers a compelling clue why. Researchers genetically engineered male and female mice to be unable to produce estrogen-either in the brain or throughout the body. In female mice lacking estrogen, old age brought spatial memory problems and reduced social interaction. Young and old females showed signs of depression. Male mice were unaffected.
The analysis revealed that gene activity patterns in the mice mirrored those seen in human Alzheimer's brains. The key changes were linked to the extracellular matrix (ECM), a network between brain cells that supports memory and growth. Lead researcher Serdar Bulun says this provides some of the most compelling evidence that estrogen is critical for female memory. The finding could eventually lead to better hormone replacement therapy strategies for preventing or slowing Alzheimer's in women.
The findings are published in Aging Cell.