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Updated: October 22, 2025 09:29 PM IST
Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, but brain volume remains stable. Learn more about this paradox and what it means.
With age, the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease increases. As a person ages, the volume of the brain also becomes smaller in size, causing both gray and white matter to be destroyed over time. A study published in PNAS on October 13, 2025 revealed that the rate of brain shrinkage actually varies by gender. Men’s brains shrink faster than women’s. So if there is a link between brain shrinkage and neurodegenerative disease, what does it say about the increased susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease in women?
Also read: Genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease? Study shows this diet can reduce it
What did the study find?
The study attempted to understand whether brain tissue, gray and white matter, shrinks faster in men or women with age. So, according to researchers, with age the volume of men’s brains becomes smaller, especially the cortex, and shrinks more. However, women have reduced volume in select brain areas, and cortex thickness remains more or less constant. The cortex is associated with important cognitive skills such as thinking, memory, and decision making.
Although there is no significant difference between men and women with regard to shrinkage of the hippocampus, a brain area associated with memory, at least until old age. Women saw a decline in this area only later in life. But this does not mean that it is at higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Instead, it reflects that women may live longer, so declines appear later as women reach older ages than men.
What does it mean?
The interesting paradox will definitely leave people scratching their heads. So, the brains of people with Alzheimer’s appear to have shrunk. And women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s. But here’s the problem: Based on the findings, this implies that brain shrinkage doesn’t always indicate disease; This may be a part of the natural aging process. Still, more research is needed to draw a full picture of why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
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