David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

What Every Woman Should Know About Alzheimer’s Risk

4 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief video, neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter explains why women face twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to men and outlines two main areas where women can take proactive steps. He references his book Brain Defenders to endorse hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when timed correctly, and he emphasizes the importance of managing metabolic health—specifically blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and body weight—as controllable factors that can lower Alzheimer’s risk and preserve brain function.

Chapters

Here's what I want every woman to know about their Alzheimer's risk. Hi, I'm Dr. David Perlmutter. I'm a neurologist. And why do we specify women in terms of this outreach? Because women are twice as likely to become Alzheimer's patients in comparison to men. Why exactly, we don't know, but here's what I'd like you to know. First, in my new book, Brain Defenders, I come out positively in favor of hormone replacement therapy, Paying attention to the timing. Second, we've got to pay attention to metabolic issues, perhaps even more so in women than men. Things like blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and body weight. These are variables over which we have control, over which women have control, to improve their odds in terms of preserving brain function and not getting that dreaded disease.