Study: Men With Head Injury at Higher Risk of Alzheimer's

Men who have suffered a significant head injury appear to be at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to British researchers.

An analysis of 15 case-controlled studies demonstrated a significant link between head injuries and Alzheimer's in men, but found no such link in women, according to the report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

"This study provides support for an association between a history of previous head injury and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease," the researchers reported. However, "the excess risk of head injury in those with Alzheimer’s disease is only found in males."

Researchers speculated that the female hormones estrogen and progesterone may protect women who have suffered head injuries from developing Alzheimer's.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Lindsay Wilson, head of the department of psychology at the University of Stirling, said the "balance of evidence, at least in males, is now firmly for the existence of an association."

'The emphasis should now be on understanding the link better rather than documenting its existence," Wilson added.

Other sources: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences