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Alzheimer's pathogenic mechanisms and underlying sex difference
Zhu D, Montagne A, Zhao Z.. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 2021-04-12
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
AD is a neurodegenerative disease, and its frequency is often reported to be higher for women than men: almost two-thirds of patients with AD are women. One prevailing view is that women live longer than men on average of 4.5 years, plus there are more women aged 85 years or older than men in most global subpopulations; and older age is the greatest risk factor for AD. However, the differences in the actual risk of developing AD for men and women of the same age is difficult to assess, and the findings have been mixed.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhu, D., Montagne, A., & Zhao, Z. (2021). Alzheimer's pathogenic mechanisms and underlying sex difference. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-03830-w
Vancouver
Zhu D, Montagne A, Zhao Z. Alzheimer's pathogenic mechanisms and underlying sex difference. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. 2021. doi:10.1007/s00018-021-03830-w. PMID: 33844047.
BibTeX
@article{zhu2021-33844047,
author = {Zhu, D. and Montagne, A. and Zhao, Z.},
title = {{Alzheimer's pathogenic mechanisms and underlying sex difference}},
journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1007/s00018-021-03830-w},
pmid = {33844047},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-03830-w}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- One prevailing view is that women live longer than men on average of 4.5 years, plus there are more women aged 85 years or older than men in most global subpopulations; and older age is the greatest risk factor for AD.
- However, the differences in the actual risk of developing AD for men and women of the same age is difficult to assess, and the findings have been mixed.
- An increasing body of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies as well as the complications in estimating incidence support the sex-specific biological mechanisms in diverging AD risk as an important adjunct explanation to the epidemiologic perspective.
- Although some of the sex differences in AD prevalence are due to differences in longevity, other distinct biological mechanisms increase the risk and progression of AD in women.
Why it matters
This review discusses why Alzheimer's disease is more common in women, noting that women live longer and that differences in risk at the same age are hard to assess with mixed findings. It does not report a treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: journal h-index 329 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 252 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 36.0 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 12 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 173 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Zhen Zhao: h-index 68 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Southern California: institution h-index 1,521 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33844047) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03830-w
- PubMed: 33844047
- Original source →
- Free full text: Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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