Older men with low testosterone levels may have a higher risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, according to findings published in The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

During a recent trial, researchers monitored a total of 153 Chinese men aged 55 years and older, including 47 individuals who had already developed some cognitive problems. Over the course of one year, 10 of the people who previously had memory problems had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The investigators discovered that the cognitively impaired group of men also had low levels of testosterone in their body tissues. Those who lacked this hormone also had higher amounts of apolipoprotein in their bodies, which increases one’s risk of the memory loss disease and spikes one’s blood pressure.

The team concluded that monitoring a man’s testosterone levels as he ages may better protect him against Alzheimer’s disease. In order to determine the further effect of testosterone on memory loss, the team is currently using replacement hormone therapies on older men who have both memory problems and low hormone levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s disease is the 10th leading cause of death in men.