Understanding the impact of sex and gender in Alzheimer's disease: A call to action

Rebecca A Nebel; Neelum T Aggarwal; Lisa L Barnes; Aimee Gallagher; Jill M Goldstein; Kejal Kantarci; Monica P Mallampalli; Elizabeth C Mormino; Laura Scott; Wai Haung Yu; Pauline M Maki; Michelle M Mielke

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008

Understanding the impact of sex and gender in Alzheimer's disease: A call to action

Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Sep;14(9):1171-1183. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Programs, Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR®), Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: rebecca@swhr.org.
² Department of Neurological Sciences and the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
³ Scientific Programs, Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR®), Washington, DC, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁷ Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁸ Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
⁹ Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Precision medicine methodologies and approaches have advanced our understanding of the clinical presentation, development, progression, and management of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, sex and gender have not yet been adequately integrated into many of these approaches.

Methods: The Society for Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Network on AD, comprised of an expert panel of scientists and clinicians, reviewed ongoing and published research related to sex and gender differences in AD.

Results: The current review is a result of this Network's efforts and aims to: (1) highlight the current state-of-the-science in the AD field on sex and gender differences; (2) address knowledge gaps in assessing sex and gender differences; and (3) discuss 12 priority areas that merit further research.

Discussion: The exclusion of sex and gender has impeded faster advancement in the detection, treatment, and care of AD across the clinical spectrum. Greater attention to these differences will improve outcomes for both sexes.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Biomarkers; Epidemiology; Gender; Hormones; Men; Menopause; Mild cognitive impairment; Risk factors; Sex; Women.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease* / epidemiology
Alzheimer Disease* / physiopathology
Alzheimer Disease* / therapy
Animals
Gender Identity*
Humans
Sex Characteristics*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding