Scientists say they may have discovered why more women than men have Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Axar.az reports citing BBC.

It has always been thought that women living longer than men was the reason.

But new research presented at an international conference suggests this may not be the whole story.

Differences in brain connectivity and sex-specific genes linked to risk could explain the numbers, the researchers say.

Most people living with Alzheimer's - the most common cause of dementia - are women.

In the UK, about 500,000 women have dementia, compared with 350,000 men.

Most people who develop the disease are over the age of 65 but it is not a normal part of ageing.

Alzheimer's disease can affect younger people too.