A recent study compared lipid levels in men and women with and without Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. The researcher found that women with the condition had more unhealthy fats than healthy fats, whereas men with Alzheimer’s had no difference in lipid levels from men without Alzheimer’s. The researchers concluded that women might benefit from increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids.
More than 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease [1]. However, studies suggest that women are affected by this progressive neurological condition at a higher rate than men [2]. As researchers continue to investigate the underlying causes and potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, they also learn more about sex-based risk variations.
Research is exploring the role of omega-3 fatty acids in cognitive health and lifespan, which may help narrow the gap in Alzheimer’s risk between men and women. Recently, researchers in the UK studied lipid biomarkers in men and women to find variations that could explain the difference.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of Alzheimer’s Association published the recent study [3].
The Role of Lipids in the Brain
Lipids are necessary components of the cell membrane. They are particularly crucial for nerve activity and the transmission of electrical impulses in the brain.
Lipids include cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids. Some lipids, like unsaturated fats, are beneficial, while others, such as saturated and trans fats, can raise LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels.
To determine lipid levels, the researchers from King’s College London (in collaboration with international partners) analyzed samples from 841 AddNeuroMed cohort participants and the Dementia Case Register [4]. There were 370 cognitively healthy individuals, 165 with mild cognitive impairment, and 306 with Alzheimer’s disease in the participant pool.
The study comprised 350 males and 491 women. The researchers excluded any people who had other psychiatric or neurological conditions.
The researchers measured hundreds of lipids in plasma using a technique known as lipidomics to determine lipid levels. They chose to focus on 268 lipids that met quality control standards.
They next analyzed the findings to see if there were any differences linked with Alzheimer’s and biological sex.
Changes in Lipid Levels in Women with Alzheimer’s
When compared to healthy persons, women showed the most disparities.
Highly unsaturated lipids (fats), particularly those containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, were considerably lower in women with Alzheimer’s. Additionally, these women showed greater concentrations of unhealthy fats.
When the researchers compared men with Alzheimer’s to men in the control group, they did not see a similar pattern.
Overall, the researchers discovered 32 lipids that were strongly linked to Alzheimer’s in women, whereas none were significantly associated in men.
Examining cognitive test results of the Mini-Mental State Exam, the researchers reported that in women with Alzheimer’s, but not in men, changes in harmful lipids were associated with lower cognitive test scores.
Several depleted lipids have been linked to higher levels of brain damage and inflammation biomarkers.
According to the researchers, this could be due to alterations in enzymes that metabolize healthy fats or disturbances in processes that help sustain brain cells. Plasmalogens are a class of fats that protect the brain and prevent inflammation, but their levels seem to be disturbed in women with Alzheimer’s.
A Hormonal and Dietary Role?
The study contributes to the growing body of evidence showing that women’s metabolisms differ significantly from that of men’s, particularly regarding fatty acids. Women generally have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their tissues, but this advantage may decrease in cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings raise questions as to whether dietary therapies (including taking omega-3 supplements) could decrease the progression of the disease in women and lessen the decline in unsaturated lipids.
The study recommends that women incorporate omega fatty acids into their diet, either by consuming fatty fish or taking supplements. However, clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether changing the lipid composition affects the biological course of Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, it aligns with evidence that suggests hormone replacement treatment may enhance cognitive function in women with the APOE ε4 genetic risk variation. It is unclear whether these benefits are related to lipid metabolism.
Implications for Research and Treatment
The principal authors of the study emphasize the need for gender-focused analysis in Alzheimer’s research. They contend that grouping men and women runs the risk of obscuring significant biological differences. The findings may also have an impact on the creation of new drugs.
Overall, the study shows how crucial it is to avoid using a “one-size-fits-all” strategy when studying Alzheimer’s in both men and women.
Although adding more omega-3 fatty acids to the diet is crucial, the authors stated that further research and clinical trials are required to determine whether dietary modifications can affect Alzheimer’s disease.
Future Prospects of the Study
If validated, these findings could pave the way for more personalized Alzheimer’s prevention and care. Lipid-tracking biomarkers may identify more vulnerable women much faster. It may be possible to customize dietary, hormonal, or pharmaceutical interventions to address particular deficiencies.
Precision medical techniques that take sex variations into account will be crucial as Alzheimer’s rates rise globally. The message is obvious for the time being: what applies to men in the biology of Alzheimer’s disease may not apply to women.
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References
- Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures. Accessed: 15th December, 2025.
- Moutinho, S., 2025. Women twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as men-but scientists do not know why. Nature medicine, 31(3), pp.704-707.
- Wretlind, A., Xu, J., Chen, W., Velayudhan, L., Ashton, N.J., Zetterberg, H., Proitsi, P. and Legido‐Quigley, C., 2025. Lipid profiling reveals unsaturated lipid reduction in women with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 21(8), p.e70512.
- Lovestone, S., Francis, P., Kloszewska, I., Mecocci, P., Simmons, A., Soininen, H., Spenger, C., Tsolaki, M., Vellas, B., Wahlund, L.O. and Ward, M., 2009. AddNeuroMed—the European collaboration for the discovery of novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1180(1), pp.36-46.
- Watts, E. Women with Alzheimer’s have lower levels of healthy fats, study finds. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/women-with-alzheimers-have-lower-levels-of-healthy-fats-study-finds. Published Online: 22nd August, 2025. Accessed: 15th December, 2025.
- Lipid Deficit Might Explain Higher Alzheimer’s Risk In Women. Psychiatrist.com. https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/lipid-deficit-might-explain-higher-alzheimers-risk-in-women/. Published Online: 22nd August, 2025. Accessed: 15th December, 2025.
- Wright, R. Women with Alzheimer’s Have Very Low Omega-3 Levels. Omegaquant. https://omegaquant.com/women-with-alzheimers-have-very-low-omega-3-levels/. Published Online: 24th September, 2025. Accessed: 15th December, 2025.
- Omega-3’s could protect women against Alzheimer’s. Kings College London News Centre. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/omega-3s-could-protect-women-against-alzheimers. Published Online: 20th August, 2025. Accessed: 15th December, 2025.
