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Most women with Alzheimer's have this in common, researchers say
2025-08-20 15:40:59 / MISTERE&KURIOZITETE
Women should ensure they get enough omega fatty acids in their diet, as extremely low levels of these compounds have been found in female patients affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Blood tests showed that women with the disease had 20% lower levels of omega fatty acids, a phenomenon not seen in men.
Such low levels were not seen in men with Alzheimer's, suggesting that there may be gender differences in how the disease develops and affects a person's physiology.
"The gender difference was the most surprising and unexpected finding, " said Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley, author of the study at King's College London, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.
" There is an indication that a lack of these compounds may be the cause of Alzheimer's, but we need a clinical trial to confirm this."
Alzheimer's disease is twice as common in women as in men.
Factors such as women's longer average lifespan, hormonal differences, immune responses and educational opportunities may all play a role in the development of the disease.
In the latest study, researchers analyzed levels of lipids, which are fatty compounds, in the blood of 306 people with Alzheimer's, 165 people with mild cognitive impairment and 370 people who were mentally healthy.
Lipids can be saturated or unsaturated, with the former considered harmful, while the latter are generally healthy.
Women with Alzheimer's disease had higher levels of saturated lipids and lower levels of unsaturated lipids than mentally healthy women, a pattern that was not observed in men.
Legido-Quigley said that if changes in the liver or metabolism are responsible, perhaps fewer omega fatty acids reach the brain in women.
“And these lipids nourish the brain,” she added.
Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as the Mediterranean diet, have long been linked to benefits for the heart, brain and other organs.
A 2022 study found that middle-aged people with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had better cognitive function than others.
Some trials have found that giving omega-3 supplements to older adults did not improve cognitive function or mental capacity in those already diagnosed with dementia.
Legido-Quigley will launch a clinical trial to test whether the supplements can delay Alzheimer's disease, particularly in women with low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, adding that this decline may begin to occur when women are in their 50s.
In the meantime, she said women should make sure they get omega fatty acids in their diet.
There are three essential omega-3 fatty acids, known as ALA, DHA and EPA. ALA is found in plant foods like chia seeds, flax seeds and walnuts.
DHA and EPA come mainly from fish. The NHS recommends eating two 140g portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish, to get enough DHA and EPA.
Dr Julia Dudley from Alzheimer's Research UK, which co-funded the study, said more work needed to uncover the mechanisms behind the gender difference and to see whether lifestyle changes, including diet, could play a role in preventing the disease.
"Understanding how the disease works differently in women could help doctors tailor treatments and health advice in the future ," she explained.
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