(MENAFN) A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that men’s brains deteriorate at a quicker pace than women’s as they grow older.

However, this discovery does not clarify why women are still more prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to reports by various media outlets on Tuesday.

The research analyzed over 12,000 brain scans from close to 5,000 healthy individuals ranging in age from 17 to 95, as reported by Fox News.

Each subject had at least two MRI scans conducted over a period to track changes in brain size and volume.

Anne Ravndal, the lead researcher from the University of Oslo in Norway, explained to Fox News, “Women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease more often than men, and since aging is the main risk factor, we wanted to test whether men’s and women’s brains change differently with age.”

The investigation showed that men underwent faster shrinkage in brain areas essential for memory, emotional regulation, and sensory functions, including the hippocampus and parahippocampal regions.

Conversely, women’s brains maintained more volume consistency across these regions, although they showed a slight increase in the size of the brain’s fluid-filled cavities called ventricles.

“Our findings show that men experience greater structural brain decline across more regions,” Ravndal noted. She also emphasized, “Normal brain aging doesn’t explain the sex difference in Alzheimer’s rates.”

Ravndal suggested other factors might contribute to the disparity, stating, “Other factors such as longevity, hormone shifts, or health-seeking behavior may play a role.”

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