Increased ERb expression during ageing could be neuroprotective against Alzheimer's disease development in the male but not the female brain.

We demonstrate for the first time a sex difference in the expression of AD biomarkers with ageing with a novel age-related increase in APP in the ageing female brain. The increase in ERb expression in male but not female samples could result in a neuroprotective effect against Aβ cytotoxicity. Our findings could partly explain female vulnerability for AD development.