Why are women more prone?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. In 2020, there were more than 55 million people worldwide with dementia and by 2050 they are expected to reach 139 million worldwide, most of them living in developing countries.

Among the dementia disorders, Alzheimer’s disease is said to be the most common type of dementia and currently around 7.6 million people in India are said to be affected by it.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

The fact that Alzheimer’s disease affects older women more than older men is a well-known fact. However, why this is so has been a mystery and scientists have been working to find the reason.

Recently, a discovery was made by scientists from the Scripps Research Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.

According to the study of post-mortem results of men and women who died of Alzheimer’s, it was found that a chemically modified form of an inflammatory immune protein called complement C3, is found in much greater quantities in women. than in men. This C3 protein is known to increase Alzheimer’s disease.

When studying the biochemical and molecular events underlying neurodegenerative diseases, it was discovered that C3 is formed in a process called protein S-nitrosylation.

Researchers had previously discovered this chemical reaction, which occurs when a molecule bound to nitric oxide (NO) binds tightly to a sulfur (S) atom, on a particular amino acid building block of proteins to form a modified “SNO protein”. .

Although tiny protein changes are common that affect brain function, large-scale changes are believed to be a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

The researchers attempted to quantify the modified proteins in 40 post-mortem human brains. Half of the brains came from people who died of Alzheimer’s disease and the other half came from people who didn’t.

In these brains, the scientists found 1,449 different proteins that had been S-nitrosylated.

Strangely, levels of S-nitrosyl C3 (SNO-C3) were also found to be more than six times higher in the brains of women with Alzheimer’s than in the brains of men with Alzheimer’s.

Scientists have known for more than 30 years that Alzheimer’s brains have higher levels of complement proteins and other markers of inflammation, compared to neurologically normal brains.

Complement proteins are known to trigger immune cells in the brain called microglia that destroy synapses.

The mechanism of synapse destruction is believed to be at the heart of the Alzheimer’s disease process.

Since the synapse is the key to messaging in the brain, its loss is closely linked to cognitive decline in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease.

With regard to women, it has also been noticed that estrogen specifically protects the female brain from C3 S-nitrosylation. However, as the woman ages and reaches menopause, there is a drop in estrogen and she is no longer protected from a possible attack of Alzheimer’s.

SNO-C3 increases as estrogen levels fall, due to the activation of an enzyme that makes NO in brain cells. This increase in SNO-C3 activates microglial destruction of synapses.

There is therefore an increased vulnerability of women as they age.

Thus, the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life are slightly higher if you are a woman than a man.

Another explanation why women are more prone to Alzheimer’s disease as they age is that they live longer than men and accumulate amyloid plaques (abnormal proteins that form in the spaces between nerve cells of the brain) believed to play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques first develop in areas of the brain involved with memory and other cognitive functions.

The amyloid plaques that cause Alzheimer’s disease are believed to be part of the brain’s immune system to fight infections. Since women have a stronger immune system than men, they are more likely to be affected by plaques.

Women are almost twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in women likely results from a combination of factors, including sex chromosomes, hormones, brain structure, gender, and life experiences.

Interestingly, androgens (i.e., male sex hormones, including testosterone) are neuroprotective in later life and may help maintain brain health and function in men, leading to lower disease levels.

Alzheimer’s disease is also affected by social and lifestyle factors, including education, occupation, social activities, diet, and exercise.

Women can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by focusing on lifestyle factors within their control, such as a varied, nutritious, low-glycemic diet. Include foods that contain vitamins C, D, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.

Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Sleep well. Keep your mind active. Play memory games.

Take good care of your health to avoid diseases that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease such as diabetes, heart disease, traumatic brain injury (concussions), depression, etc.

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