Loss of Y chromosome in men may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease
As they age, men may lose the Y chromosome in some blood cells. This loss may be associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. A study of more than 3,200 men found those with Alzheimer’s were nearly three times more likely to show a loss of the Y chromosome in some of their blood cells. In addition, older men with the same loss of the chromosome faced a higher risk of Alzheimer’s over the next eight years. The research is preliminary, and experts said the study doesn’t prove that loss of the Y chromosome directly contributes to Alzheimer’s disease.