This Drug May Not Help Women With Alzheimer's
Researchers find no benefits from raloxifene in those with mild to moderate dementia
However, she added, scientists are still trying to understand the genetic and biological reasons for Alzheimer's, including hormonal pathways.
"I think there are a lot of things we don't understand about the underlying biology and the role of these different pathways for Alzheimer's disease," she said.
About 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association, although not all are diagnosed. Of those, two-thirds are women, Snyder said, "but we don't know why."
Women's generally longer life expectancy may be one factor, but there may also be biological and genetic reasons, Snyder said.
Some of Henderson's co-researchers report serving as consultants or speakers for Eli Lilly, which provided the study drug, and other pharmaceutical companies. The U.S. National Institutes of Health supported the study.