Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer's disease: recommendations for future research.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affects women in both prevalence and severity; however, the biologic mechanisms underlying these sex differences are not fully understood. Sex differences in the brain, such as in brain anatomy, age-related declines in brain volume, and brain glucose metabolism, have been documented and may be important in understanding AD etiology. The full impact of sex as a basic biologic variable on this neurodegenerative disease remains elusive. To address the evidence for sex differences in AD, the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) convened an interdisciplinary roundtable of experts from academia, clinical medicine, industry, and the government to discuss the state-of-the-science in sex and gender differences in AD. Roundtable participants were asked to address gaps in our knowledge and identify specific sex-based research questions for future areas of study.
Scientific Affairs, Society for Women's Health Research, Washington, DC 20036, USA. chris@swhr.org
Christine L
CL
Carter
Eileen M
EM
Resnick
Monica
M
Mallampalli
Anna
A
Kalbarczyk
D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016387:Women's Health