Alzheimer’s and Women: What the Science—and the Nuns—Can Teach Us About Prevention
š£ Introduction Did you know that nearly two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s are women ? While we often hear about memory loss and aging, the full story is deeper—and more hopeful—than many realize. As a health educator and wellness advocate, I’ve spent this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month diving into what really puts us at risk—and what we can actually do about it. One of the most remarkable sources of insight? A group of nuns who became part of a groundbreaking study that helped unlock secrets of brain aging. š§ The Nun Study: Unlocking the Mystery of Alzheimer’s The Nun Study began in the 1980s with a group of over 600 Catholic sisters. These women, who had similar lifestyles, diets, and healthcare access, became part of one of the most famous aging studies ever conducted. What made this study special? The nuns agreed to donate their brains for postmortem analysis. Researchers found that some nuns had all the biological signs of Alzheimer’s—but had shown no symptom...