All articles tagged with #sex differences
A study finds that after ketamine anesthesia, female mice exhibit heightened brain activity and microglial remodeling that increases neuroplasticity via corticosterone triggering the FKBP51 protein; this effect is not observed in male mice, suggesting sex-specific drug responses with implications for depression treatment research.
A ~20-year ARIC study of about 1,700 adults found that frequent midlife TV viewing is associated with widespread brain atrophy (smaller frontal and occipital lobes) and increased white matter hyperintensities, markers linked to vascular risk and early neurodegeneration. By contrast, cognitively engaging desk work correlated with larger brain regions and fewer WMHs, suggesting sitting can be protective when mentally active. Men showed greater vulnerability. The authors call for health guidance to reduce passive screen time and encourage mentally stimulating seated activities, noting limitations like self-reported TV data and lack of a baseline MRI.
An umbrella review of 21 statin trials with sex-disaggregated data finds statin use raises incident type 2 diabetes risk by about 25% overall, with similar increases in women (OR 1.28) and men (OR 1.24). The study highlights underrepresentation of women and a lack of study-level sex-specific data, which prevents precise absolute-risk estimates or assessment of statin-specific effects, underscoring the need for more research and sex-stratified reporting to inform personalized statin therapy.
Using fMRI data from about 5,800 preteens in the ABCD study, researchers found that baseline amygdala response to emotional faces uniquely predicted social health two years later, with high reactivity linked to more peer involvement in girls but less in boys, suggesting sex-specific brain development trajectories.
Researchers at the University of Miami found that glioblastoma grows via a female-specific mechanism in which the neurotransmitter GABA reprograms granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to become more immunosuppressive, promoting tumor growth only in females. Blocking GABA receptors in female models dismantled this immune shield and improved survival, with human tumor samples showing higher GABA and GABA receptor levels in female granulocytic MDSCs. The findings suggest sex-specific immunotherapy approaches for brain cancer and potential broader applications to other tumors that recruit MDSCs.
A UC San Diego study of over 17,000 midlife and older adults finds that several dementia risk factors—such as depression, physical inactivity, hearing loss, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes—affect women’s cognition more strongly than men’s, indicating prevention may be more effective when tailored by sex.
A study of 17,182 adults found that certain dementia risk factors have a larger negative impact on women’s cognition than men’s, and that women accumulate more risk factors over life. Depression, inactivity, and sleep problems are more common in women, while hearing loss, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use are more common in men. High blood pressure, hearing loss, and diabetes were linked to greater cognitive decline in women, and higher BMI affected women in their 50s–60s. Conversely, years of education and total cholesterol showed positive associations with cognition. The results suggest sex-specific prevention strategies, though causality can’t be proven, and note that two-thirds of US Alzheimer’s patients are women.
A new analysis of the ABCD longitudinal dataset (11,000+ youths) shows that the long-standing claim that brains of kids with ADHD mature more slowly is likely a mirage. When researchers accounted for sex differences in how boys’ and girls’ brains develop over time, the previously observed link between ADHD and delayed cortical thinning disappeared. The finding suggests ADHD remains a biological condition with genetic components, but that early brain-imaging signals lacked reliable diagnostic biomarkers and highlighted replication challenges in neuroscience.
A colon-on-a-chip platform using patient-derived epithelium and fibroblasts reproduces healthy and IBD-like tissue, showing IBD fibroblasts drive barrier dysfunction, mucus changes, and inflammation. Peristalsis-like mechanical cues amplify fibrosis and inflammatory signaling in IBD chips, while female hormones exacerbate fibrosis and inflammation specifically in IBD tissues. Tissue-recombinant experiments confirm the stroma as the key driver of barrier breach and cytokine production. When exposed to the carcinogen ENU, IBD chips exhibit greater inflammation, loss of E-cadherin, nuclear β-catenin, and early cancer markers, along with copy-number changes, indicating heightened cancer-initiation risk. The model enables patient-specific studies and tests of stromal-focused therapies and sex-hormone effects on disease progression and cancer risk.
New research shows hormones shape how we hear, with men showing earlier, gradual decline and women experiencing monthly auditory fluctuations and menopause-related changes; the study calls for sex- and hormone-aware, holistic research approaches to improve accurate diagnoses and personalized hearing care.
A Nature feature shows that the X and Y chromosomes influence health beyond hormones. Some X-linked genes escape inactivation, driving sex differences in autoimmunity, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental conditions; in mice, the statin side effects were linked to an Xi escape gene, Kdm5c, with DHA supplementation partially reversing the metabolic effects. Overall, Xi and Y gene expression affect about 21% of genes in tested cells, underscoring the need to study XX versus XY biology to understand disease risk and drug responses.
A population-based study using Israel’s National Birth Registry found that congenital malformations were more common in children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in neurotypical peers, with circulatory and urogenital anomalies most prevalent. Sex-specific patterns emerged: genital malformations were more frequent in boys with ASD, while non-genitourinary (primarily circulatory) malformations were more common in girls with ASD; authors suggest prenatal androgens may influence development but acknowledge limitations like diagnostic changes and potential survival bias. Congenital malformations could serve as early markers for ASD risk.
A single-cell analysis of over a million brain cells from six cortical regions in 30 people found subtle but widespread sex differences in gene activity, with more than 100 genes showing consistent sex-related expression patterns. Sex accounts for less than 1% of overall gene-expression variation, but these molecular signatures could help explain why risks for conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's differ by sex and how hormonal environments might modulate brain biology across life.
The study shows neuronal lipid droplets (nLDs) exist in vivo in both flies and mice; their formation is regulated by triglyceride metabolism enzymes and LD-associated proteins. Modulating nLDs produces conserved, male-biased effects on whole-body energy homeostasis, particularly in neurons that link environmental cues to energy balance. Mechanistically, nLD-derived lipids supply fatty acids and phospholipids to support mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum function, highlighting a conserved role for nLDs in coordinating neuronal lipid supply and demand for healthy energy regulation.
UTEP researchers report that caffeine consumed at night increases impulsive behavior in fruit flies, especially in females, while daytime caffeine has no similar effect; the study, published in iScience, suggests a time-of-day modulation of caffeine’s impact on behavioral control with potential implications for night-shift workers.