Tag

Sex Differences

All articles tagged with #sex differences

science3 days ago•91 min saved

Large study debunks the idea that ADHD brains mature more slowly

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.

via Live Science|

#adhd #brain-development #cortical-thickness

technology5 days ago•55 min saved

Colon-on-a-chip uncovers stromal drivers, hormonal influences, and cancer risk in IBD

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.

via Nature|

#cancer-progression #fibrosis #inflammatory-bowel-disease

science12 days ago•4 min saved

Hormones Rewrite Hearing: Sex-Specific Differences in Auditory Processing

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.

via Neuroscience News|

#auditory-processing #hearing #hormones

science1 month ago•11 min saved

The X Factor in Health: How sex chromosomes shape disease and drug responses

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.

via Nature|

#science #sex-differences #statin-side-effects

autism1 month ago•21 min saved

Birth Defects Linked to Later Autism Risk Show Sex-Specific Patterns

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.

via PsyPost|

#autism #circulatory-system #congenital-malformations

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Sex-Specific Gene Activity Mapped Across Brain Cells

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.

via Nature|

#brain #cortex #gene-expression

science1 month ago•91 min saved

Neuronal lipid droplets coordinate whole-body energy balance with male-biased effects across species

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.

via Nature|

#drosophila #energy-homeostasis #mice

science2 months ago•7 min saved

Night-Shift Coffee Could Heighten Impulsivity, Study Finds

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.

via SciTechDaily|

#caffeine #fruit-flies #impulsivity

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Sex-Specific Parkinson's Patterns Emerge in Large Australian Study

A large Australian Parkinson's Genetics Study (n=10,929) finds Parkinson's disease presents and progresses differently by sex and highlights the prominence of non-motor symptoms. Onset is younger for women (63.7) than men (64.4), and women have more pain and falls, while men show more memory changes and impulsive behaviors. The disease is ~1.5x more common in men; environmental risks (pesticide exposure, traumatic brain injury, high-risk occupations) are common and higher in men. About 25% have a family history; only 10–15% linked to known gene mutations, with most risk due to gene–environment interaction and aging. Limitations include self-reported data, a ~6% response rate, and predominantly European ancestry. Researchers plan to use smartphones and wearables to collect richer data, aiming for earlier risk identification and more personalized management.

via ScienceAlert|

#australia #health #non-motor-symptoms

science2 months ago•11 min saved

Sex-Specific GLP-1 Brain Map Could Explain Weight-Loss Drug Differences

Researchers used RNAscope to build the first sex-specific atlas of GLP-1 expression in the mouse brain, mapping GLP-1 across 25 brain nuclei in three female and three male mice. They found notable sex differences: females have higher GLP-1 density in hindbrain appetite regions (ROb, SolV, SolM), while males show higher GLP-1 in the olfactory bulb, with some regions showing female-only (ventral tegmental area) or male-only (lateral hypothalamus) expression. The atlas helps explain why women often lose more weight on GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and suggests potential sex-specific avenues for treating addiction, depression, and cognitive decline, though limitations include the small sample size and the fact that transcript presence does not prove peptide release or function.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-atlas #glp-1 #obesity

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Parkinson's protein may accelerate Alzheimer's progression in women, study finds

A Mayo Clinic study of 415 participants found that older women with Alzheimer's who tested positive for the Parkinson's-related protein alpha-synuclein accumulated tau about 20 times faster than men with the same abnormal protein, suggesting alpha-synuclein may accelerate Alzheimer's progression in women. The findings indicate sex-specific disease trajectories and potential biomarker-guided therapies, but replication is needed before changing treatment approaches.

via Medical News Today|

#alpha-synuclein #alzheimers-disease #biomarkers

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Parkinson’s Protein Accelerates Alzheimer’s Progression in Women

A Mayo Clinic study finds that women with coexisting alpha-synuclein (Parkinson’s) and tau (Alzheimer’s) abnormalities experience tau accumulation and brain degeneration up to 20 times faster than those without the co-pathology, a sex-specific effect not seen in men, suggesting the need for gender-tailored screening and treatments.

via Neuroscience News|

#alpha-synuclein #alzheimers-disease #health

health2 months ago•67 min saved

Immune signals and hormones may explain why women's pain lingers longer

New research combining mouse experiments with human vehicle‑crash data suggests that pain after injury lasts longer in women because monocytes produce less IL-10, a molecule that both reduces inflammation and directly dampens pain signals; testosterone boosts IL-10 production in male monocytes, helping men recover faster. This shifts the view of the immune system from solely driving pain to also helping resolve it, pointing to therapies that enhance the body's natural pain‑resolution pathways to prevent chronic pain.

via Live Science|

#health #immune-system #interleukin-10

health2 months ago•24 min saved

Immune ‘Off-Switch’ for Pain Found to Differ by Sex, Study Shows

A new Science Immunology study links IL-10–producing monocytes to an immune brake that dampens pain after injury. In mice, males had more IL-10–producing cells and recovered faster, with pain lasting longer when IL-10 or its receptor was blocked. Human data from the AURORA trauma study showed higher IL-10 levels at injury in men and lower subsequent pain, suggesting a biological basis for women’s longer-lasting pain. While not the sole pathway for all chronic pain, the findings point to immune signaling as a potential target, with ideas like skin-applied testosterone to modulate IL-10–positive monocytes under exploration (noting more research is needed).

via ZME Science|

#health #il-10 #immune-system

science2 months ago•7 min saved

Aging Decoded: 7-Million-Cell Atlas Maps Coordinated Decline Across 21 Organs

Researchers mapped nearly 7 million cells from 21 mouse organs at three ages to create the most detailed aging atlas yet, finding that aging proceeds in a synchronized, body-wide fashion with about a quarter of cell types changing in abundance and notable sex differences; the study also identified shared DNA-regulatory hotspots and cytokine-linked changes that could become targets for therapies aiming to slow aging across multiple organs.

via ScienceDaily|

#aging #anti-aging-therapy #epigenomics