Sex differences in pain, inflammation and Alzheimer's disease
· Medical Xpressedited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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New evidence supports the idea that differences within and between sexes impact how neurological disorders progress and respond to treatment. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2026, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
Scientists are discovering that some disorders behave differently depending on a person's biological sex and genetic risk factors. These differences offer the potential for customized treatment based on an individual's biological and genetic profile. Two such conditions are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue experienced by 2% to 4% of the global population.
AD is an incurable brain disorder that leads to progressive memory loss and declining brain function; it affects between 35 and 40 million people across the world, according to the World Health Organization.
New findings show that:
- People with genetic risk for AD responded differently to menopause hormone therapy (MHT) than those without that risk, and response differs by specific MHT hormonal formulation, highlighting the importance of considering genetic risk and MHT formulation before treatment.
- In menopausal rodents with genetic risk for AD, brain circuits involved in memory became especially vulnerable — supporting the idea that menopause may be a period of vulnerability for women at risk for AD.
- Female mice in a model of fibromyalgia remained sensitive to touch and showed greater immune activation than male mice, suggesting that sex-specific treatments may be beneficial.
- In a mouse model, chronic gut inflammation affected brain function and AD-related pathology differently in males and females.
"These four studies illustrate the fascinating discoveries that can be made when focusing on female-specific biology or possible sex differences in AD-related symptoms and risk factors," said Liisa Galea, Treliving Family chair in Women's Mental Health at Center for Addiction and Mental Health and moderator of the press conference.
"The research presented at Neuroscience 2026 helps us pinpoint the specific differences that may help us develop more targeted treatment using precision approaches, even for some of our most complex brain disorders."
Key medical concepts
Alzheimer's DiseaseFibromyalgiaHormone Replacement TherapyMenopause
Clinical categories
NeurologyWomen's health Provided by Society for Neuroscience Who's behind this story?
Sadie Harley
BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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