- Biotech Spain

Biological sex, that is, being born male or female, can influence various aspects of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (symptom onset before the age of 65).

This is suggested by research conducted by Clínic-IDIBAPS researchers published recently. The study indicates that, at the time of diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, differences between sexes can be observed. Women show more widespread brain atrophy, greater cognitive decline affecting memory loss, and higher levels of tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid (a key biomarker for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis) than men when compared to healthy individuals of the same sex. This suggests that biological sex could be a factor influencing susceptibility to developing the disease or even its progression. However, the research has some limitations, such as a very small number of people studied. Therefore, further research with more extensive studies that consider other factors, such as individual hormonal history, is needed.

The fact that Alzheimer's disease is more common in women suggests that the female sex may be a risk factor. Understanding how sex influences different biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease can be important for improving diagnosis. Additionally, analyzing how these molecules change according to different presentations of the pathology is also crucial for a better understanding of the disease's pathophysiology.

The study included 106 participants, 62 of whom are individuals with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and 44 healthy individuals, from the Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders unit of Clínic Barcelona Hospital.

Alzheimer's disease is currently the leading cause of neurodegenerative dementia worldwide, affecting over 50 million people. Apart from memory loss, the neurodegeneration caused by Alzheimer's disease also interferes with the functioning of other brain areas responsible for cognitive tasks such as language, orientation, or behavior.

The study's results suggest that there are sex differences at the time of diagnosis. Differences that could be relevant for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, in diagnosis, or in monitoring the response to new experimental drugs. However, more studies on precision medicine in patients with early-onset dementia are needed.

REFERENCE ARTICLE: José Contador, Agnès Pérez-Millan, Núria Guillén, Jordi Sarto, Adrià Tort-Merino, Mircea Balasa, Neus Falgàs, Magdalena Castellví, Sergi Borrego-Écija, Jordi Juncà-Parella, Beatriz Bosch, Guadalupe Fernández-Villullas, Oscar Ramos-Campoy, Anna Antonell, Nuria Baragalló, Raquel Sánchez-Valle, Roser Sala-Llonch and Albert Lladó. Sex differences in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol 2022, 19, 3623-3632.

DOCUMENTED BY:

Dr. Agnès Pérez-Millan. Physicist and predoctoral researcher of the Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders unit at Clínic Barcelona Hospital. Researcher of the Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive disorders Group at IDIBAPS.

Dr. Albert Lladó Plarrumaní. Neurologist of the Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders unit at Clínic Barcelona Hospital.

Image: Person with Alzheimer's At the time of diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, differences between sexes can be observed.