In a new study in mice and humans, researchers at University of Western Ontario, Canada, have shown that female sex hormones play a significant role in how Alzheimer’s manifests in the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately affects women, who represent about two-thirds of those diagnosed with the late-onset type of the disease. The biological bases for these differences between men and women with Alzheimer’s disease are not well understood. However, understanding them is necessary for developing appropriate therapies.