Why Alzheimer’s Seems to Affect Women More – And the Role of Omega-3

ByHerman J. Nord Updated:
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Why Alzheimer’s Seems to Affect Women More – And the Role of Omega-3

We’ve known for years that Alzheimer’s disease affects more women than men, especially later in life.

But why?

A new study might have uncovered a fascinating clue – and it has everything to do with omega-3 fatty acids.

The Surprising Gender Difference

Researchers from King’s College London and Queen Mary University London looked at the blood of over 800 people, including those with Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy individuals. What they found was striking:

  • Women with Alzheimer’s had much lower levels of omega-3 and other unsaturated fats compared to healthy women.
  • Men, however, showed no major difference in these fats whether they had Alzheimer’s or not.

This suggests that lipids (fats in our blood) play a sex-specific role in Alzheimer’s. Put simply, the disease seems to “interact” with women’s biology in a different way than it does with men’s.

Why Fats Matter for the Brain

It might sound odd to focus on fats, but they’re crucial for keeping our brains healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids in particular – found in foods like salmon, sardines, and walnuts – help reduce inflammation, support cell membranes, and protect neurons.

The study revealed that in women with Alzheimer’s, there was a sharp drop in these protective unsaturated fats and an increase in saturated fats, which are considered less healthy. This imbalance could be one reason why more women than men face the disease, especially after age 80.

First-of-Its-Kind Findings

This is the first major research to highlight how lipid biology differs between men and women with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley, the senior author, explained it like this:
“For men, we saw no difference in lipid levels between healthy and impaired groups. For women, the picture was completely different.”

That discovery opens up new avenues for treatment and could eventually lead to sex-specific health advice for preventing or managing Alzheimer’s.

Could Diet Be the Key?

While the study doesn’t prove that eating more omega-3s will stop Alzheimer’s, it does hint at a possible connection. The researchers suggest that women may want to ensure they’re getting enough omega fatty acids in their diet – either through oily fish, nuts, seeds, or supplements.

Still, they stress that clinical trials are needed before making any firm conclusions. It’s possible that adjusting lipid levels in the blood could change how the disease develops – but that remains to be tested.

How Early Do These Differences Appear?

Interestingly, the team wants to know if these lipid differences show up much earlier in life. If women start losing protective fats decades before symptoms appear, lifestyle changes could play an important role in prevention.

Dr. Asger Wretlind, first author of the study, noted that the results were “very striking” and could help explain long-observed patterns: more women develop Alzheimer’s, but until now, the biological reasons were unclear.

What It Means for the Future

In the UK, around two-thirds of people living with dementia are women. Some of that may be because women tend to live longer, but this study shows that biology itself may also be at play.

According to Dr. Julia Dudley from Alzheimer’s Research UK, future research will need to explore:

  • The exact mechanisms behind this lipid difference.
  • How diet and lifestyle could help.
  • Whether these results hold true in diverse populations, since the current study was somewhat limited.

The hope is that by understanding how Alzheimer’s works differently in women, doctors could eventually offer personalized treatments – and maybe even new prevention strategies.

A Step Closer to Answers

For now, this research gives us a new lens to look through. It doesn’t solve the Alzheimer’s puzzle yet, but it does shine a light on one important piece: the role of omega-3 and unsaturated fats in women’s brain health.

And while scientists continue to test these findings in clinical trials, it might not hurt to add a little extra salmon, mackerel, or chia seeds to your weekly menu – especially if you’re thinking long-term about brain health.

Source: “Lipid profiling reveals unsaturated lipid reduction in women with Alzheimer’s disease” by Asger Wretlind, Jin Xu, Wenqiang Chen, Latha Velayudhan, Nicholas J. Ashton, Henrik Zetterberg, Petroula Proitsi and Cristina Legido-Quigley, 20 August 2025, Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
DOI: 10.1002/alz.70512

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