Brain tissue mechanism may explain why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer's - The Science Board

The researchers found that women naturally express higher levels of an X-linked enzyme called ubiquitin-specific peptidase 11 (USP11).

Higher USP11 levels result in greater accumulation of a protein called tau, which is responsible for the formation of toxic protein clumps inside the brain nerve cells of Alzheimer's patients.

The presence of a chemical tag called ubiquitin on tau is regulated by a balanced system of enzymes that either add or remove the ubiquitin tag.