Women More Likely to Get Alzheimer's Than Breast Cancer, And Twice as Likely as Men

Wonderful.  Something new for women over 60 to worry about (and maybe stop worrying about, too).  You're far more likely to develop Alzheimer's than breast cancer.  (Guess I'm OK.  I had breast cancer at 50.)

 A new study has found that one in eight women will develop breast cancer over their lifetimes, but for Alzheimer's? It's one in six, according to CNN.com.

 And for men?  Only one out of 11 men over 60 will develop Alzheimer's.

 How do we always manage to get the short end of the stick?!  

 Age is the greatest risk factor for gender differences among Alzheimer's patients, but it's not the only reason. Researchers are also looking at genetic and hormonal differences, according to Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer's Association, CNN reports.

The disease affects more than 5 million Americans, two-thirds of them women. The new details about this disease and its impact on women come from a survey of more than 3,000 women commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association.







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