Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 13: A new study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine has revealed that women with Down syndrome exhibit more advanced signs of Alzheimer's disease compared to men, despite being diagnosed at the same average age.

Published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, the research found that women with Down syndrome have higher levels of beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau—two proteins closely associated with Alzheimer’s pathology. These differences were particularly pronounced in the occipital lobe, a brain region also affected in women with sporadic (late-onset) Alzheimer's disease.

The findings raise critical questions about how sex-specific biology influences disease progression and underscore the need for gender-sensitive approaches in Alzheimer’s research, diagnosis, and treatment, especially within high-risk populations.

“Understanding selective vulnerabilities within the brain and how these differ in women versus men will help us better navigate treatment outcomes,” said Elizabeth Andrews, lead author and doctoral candidate at UC Irvine. “Modifiable risk factors, including sex-specific risks, must be accounted for.”
People with Down syndrome are genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age, and it is the leading cause of death in this population. While earlier studies noted that women may live longer with dementia than men, few had explored whether the underlying brain changes differ by sex.

To investigate, the researchers analyzed postmortem brain tissue, comparing the buildup of Alzheimer’s-related proteins in men and women with Down syndrome. The data suggest that women could be further along in disease progression at the time of diagnosis—despite no difference in when that diagnosis occurs.

“If women with Down syndrome are further along at diagnosis, it could change how we time interventions and interpret clinical trial outcomes,” explained Professor Elizabeth Head, a co-author of the study and expert in pathology.

The implications of the study go beyond the Down syndrome community. Researchers believe it may provide broader insights into how sex differences affect Alzheimer's in the general population, ultimately helping to personalize treatment strategies.

“This research could help tailor therapies more effectively, not just for people with Down syndrome, but for the broader Alzheimer's population as well,” added Head.

The study calls for more inclusive and sex-specific data in Alzheimer’s research and clinical trial design—an area that has historically leaned on generalized models that may overlook critical biological differences.