Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcus Negron, Jeffrey Kristensen, Van Thuan Nguyen, Lauren E. Gansereit, Frank J. Raucci, Julia L. Chariker, Aaron Heck, Imamulhaq Brula, Gabrielle Kitchen, Cassandra P. Awgulewitsch, Lin Zhong, Eric C. Rouchka, Simran Banga, Cristi L. Galindo
Summary: The study found that mice with the BDNF rs6265 polymorphism exhibited altered cardiac function, with gender-specific differences. Female mice showed cardiac hypertrophy in response to stress, while male mice displayed an inflammatory immune response. These results reveal sex-based differences in how the BDNF polymorphism modifies cardiac physiology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Madeline E. Wood, Lisa Y. Xiong, Yuen Yan Wong, Rachel F. Buckley, Walter Swardfager, Mario Masellis, Andrew S. P. Lim, Emma Nichols, Renaud La Joie, Kaitlin B. Casaletto, Raj G. Kumar, Kristen Dams-O'Connor, Priya Palta, Kristen M. George, Claudia L. Satizabal, Lisa L. Barnes, Julie A. Schneider, Alexa Pichette Binet, Sylvia Villeneuve, Judy Pa, Adam E. Brickman, Sandra S. Black, Jennifer S. Rabin
Summary: Sex modifies the association between APOE epsilon 2 and cognitive decline, with APOE epsilon 2 protecting against decline in men but not women. Among APOE epsilon 2 carriers, men have slower decline than women. There are no sex-specific effects of APOE epsilon 2 in non-Hispanic Black adults.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Giulia Giacomucci, Salvatore Mazzeo, Sonia Padiglioni, Silvia Bagnoli, Laura Belloni, Camilla Ferrari, Laura Bracco, Benedetta Nacmias, Sandro Sorbi, Valentina Bessi
Summary: The study found that women with SCD were younger and had less education, lower intelligence test scores, and more cognitive complaints compared to men. Intelligence tests were directly related to age of onset for both genders, while years of education were only inversely related to age of onset in women. Gender independently affected intelligence tests, with intelligence tests being directly related to cognitive complaints in men.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaarin J. Anstey, Ruth Peters, Moyra E. Mortby, Kim M. Kiely, Ranmalee Eramudugolla, Nicolas Cherbuin, Md Hamidul Huque, Roger A. Dixon
Summary: The study found that memory decline in men in midlife and old age was associated with physical, cognitive, and social activities, while financial hardship was associated with memory decline. In women, dementia risk factors in midlife were associated with memory decline, and memory change in older women was associated with depression, cognitive and physical activity. Incident midlife hypertension was linked to greater memory decline in women, while incident late-life stroke was linked to greater memory decline in men. Women have fewer modifiable risk factors compared to men, and stroke and hypertension explained sex differences in memory decline for men and women respectively.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Akiko Shikano, Shingo Noi
Summary: This study investigated performance differences in go/no-go tasks among Japanese children and examined the relationship between their lifestyle habits and performance. The results showed that sex and grade were related to commission errors, while grade was related to omission errors. Additionally, logistic regression analysis revealed that commission errors were significantly associated with sex and grade, while omission errors were associated with grade, bedtime, screen time, and physical activity.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jie Li, Wenting Hao, Chunying Fu, Chengchao Zhou, Dongshan Zhu
Summary: This study found that postmenopausal women are more likely to experience memory impairment compared to men, particularly in objective memory. Female reproductive factors such as age at menarche and menopause may influence the risk of memory problems.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Hikaru Takeuchi, Hiroaki Tomita, Ryan Browne, Yasuyuki Taki, Yoshie Kikuchi, Chiaki Ono, Zhiqian Yu, Rui Nouchi, Ryoichi Yokoyama, Yuka Kotozaki, Seishu Nakagawa, Atsushi Sekiguchi, Kunio Iizuka, Sugiko Hanawa, Tsuyoshi Araki, Carlos Makoto Miyauchi, Kohei Sakaki, Takayuki Nozawa, Shigeyuki Ikeda, Susumu Yokota, Daniele Magistro, Yuko Sassa, Ryuta Kawashima
Summary: The APOE epsilon 4 allele is associated with a risk of Alzheimer's disease, especially in females, with potential interaction effects with sex on cognitive functions and brain structures in young adults.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ermelinda De Meo, Emilio Portaccio, Elio Prestipino, Benedetta Nacmias, Silvia Bagnoli, Lorenzo Razzolini, Luisa Pasto, Claudia Niccolai, Benedetta Goretti, Angelo Bellinvia, Mattia Fonderico, Antonio Giorgio, Maria Laura Stromillo, Massimo Filippi, Sandro Sorbi, Nicola De Stefano, Maria Pia Amato
Summary: The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may have a protective role in multiple sclerosis patients against both hippocampal atrophy and cognitive impairment.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Emilio Portaccio, Angelo Bellinvia, Elio Prestipino, Benedetta Nacmias, Silvia Bagnoli, Lorenzo Razzolini, Luisa Pasto, Claudia Niccolai, Benedetta Goretti, Mattia Fonderico, Giovanni Bosco Zimatore, Nunzia Alessandra Losignore, Sandro Sorbi, Maria Pia Amato
Summary: The study suggests a potential protective effect of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism against cognitive impairment in MS patients, possibly due to the detrimental effect of increased BDNF concentration in a neuroinflammatory environment. Higher EDSS score is associated with a progressive disease course, with a marginal association with the presence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rachel F. Buckley, Adrienne O'Donnell, Emer R. McGrath, Heidi I. L. Jacobs, Cristina Lois, Claudia L. Satizabal, Saptaparni Ghosh, Zoe B. Rubinstein, Joanne M. Murabito, Reisa A. Sperling, Keith A. Johnson, Sudha Seshadri, Alexandra S. Beiser
Summary: A study found that there are gender differences in tau protein deposition in middle-aged adults, with women after menopause being more susceptible compared to men. These differences occur in the middle frontal and parieto-occipital regions and are independent of Aβ protein burden or the APOEε4 gene.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Michael D. Oliver, Cassandra Morrison, Farooq Kamal, Jillian Graham, Mahsa Dadar
Summary: The endorsement of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is related to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is influenced by biological sex. Individuals with SCD have poorer cognitive performance and faster decline, with females with SCD experiencing the fastest decline in cognitive domains.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Klodian Dhana, Neelum T. Aggarwal, Kumar B. Rajan, Lisa L. Barnes, Denis A. Evans, Martha C. Morris
Summary: Adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults, particularly among those with a genetic predisposition, highlighting the importance of healthy habits in maintaining cognitive function as individuals age.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tingting Liu, Changwei Li, Ruiyuan Zhang, Eugenia Flores Millender, Hongyu Miao, Michael Ormsbee, Jinzhen Guo, Adrianna Westbrook, Yang Pan, Jing Wang, Tanika N. Kelly
Summary: The study found that the polygenic score was associated with cognition changes in both White and Black participants, explaining varying degrees of variance. In diabetes patients, physical activity was able to offset genetic risk and slow down cognitive decline.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Larissa Salvador, Luana Giatti, Maria Carmen Viana, Claudia Kimie Suemoto, Bruce B. Duncan, Maria del Carmen Bisi Molina, Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca, Andre R. Brunoni, Sandhi Maria Barreto, Paulo Caramelli
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of alcohol intake on cognition in middle-aged participants and found that heavy alcohol consumption can affect executive functions in men and memory in women, while moderate alcohol intake may have a protective effect on gender-specific cognitive functions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jessica Gong, Katie Harris, Christophe Tzourio, Stephen Harrap, Sharon Naismith, Craig S. Anderson, John Chalmers, Mark Woodward
Summary: Stroke and transient ischemic attack patients, especially women, have a lower risk of cognitive decline/dementia. Treatment, higher education, and better cognitive status are associated with decreased risk, while factors like higher diastolic blood pressure, low estimated glomerular filtration rate, and peripheral arterial disease are associated with increased risk. Sex-specific differences exist in risk factors for cognitive decline/dementia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Willem S. Eikelboom, Jana Koch, Elizabeth Beattie, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, Colleen Doyle, Esther van den Berg, Janne M. Papma, Kaarin J. Anstey, Moyra E. Mortby
Summary: This study analyzed electronic care notes from residential aged care facilities to investigate the reporting and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) by staff. The findings suggest that staff primarily focus on and respond to NPS they perceive as distressing, potentially leading to under-recognition of specific NPS types and a lack of routine assessment and management of underlying causes.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sarang Kim, Kaarin J. Anstey, Moyra E. Mortby
Summary: The study finds that there is a lack of knowledge about dementia among the general population, with a mixed understanding of dementia being prevalent. Older age groups, individuals who know someone with dementia, those who speak a non-English language at home, and those who have a better understanding of dementia show higher levels of negative cognitive attributions towards dementia. Older age groups, men, individuals who do not know someone with dementia, and those who speak a non-English language at home also report higher levels of discriminatory behavioral reactions compared to younger age groups, females, individuals who know someone with dementia, and those who speak English only at home.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kim M. Kiely, Saman Khalatbari-Soltani, Fiona M. Blyth, Vasikaran Naganathan, David J. Handelsman, Louise M. Waite, David G. Le Couteur, Moyra E. Mortby, Robert G. Cumming, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between self-reported hearing difficulties and future risk of falling among older adults. The findings from the two Australian cohorts showed mixed results, suggesting that self-reported hearing difficulties may be predictive of falls in some cases but not in others.
Review
Substance Abuse
Louise Mewton, Rachel Visontay, Nicholas Hoy, Darren M. Lipnicki, Matthew Sunderland, Richard B. Lipton, Maelenn Guerchet, Karen Ritchie, Jenna Najar, Nikolaos Scarmeas, Ki-Woong Kim, Steffi Riedel Heller, Martin van Boxtel, Erin Jacobsen, Henry Brodaty, Kaarin J. Anstey, Mary Haan, Marcia Scazufca, Elena Lobo, Perminder S. Sachdev
Summary: This study synthesizes international findings on the alcohol-dementia relationship, indicating that abstinence from alcohol is associated with an increased risk for all-cause dementia, while there is no consistent evidence to suggest that the amount of alcohol consumed in later life is associated with dementia risk among current drinkers.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nadia Harerimana, Devashi Paliwali, Carmen Romero-Molina, David A. Bennett, Judy Pa, Alison Goate, Russell H. Swerdlow, Shea J. Andrews
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early and prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease, which affects neuronal and glial cell function by reducing mitochondrial bioenergetics. It is still unknown whether mitochondrial dysfunction causes, mediates, or is a by-product of AD pathogenesis.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Craig Sinclair, Ranmalee Eramudugolla, Nicolas Cherbuin, Moyra E. Mortby, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on decision-making under explicit risk conditions among older adults. The results showed that participants with MCI exhibited impaired performance on the decision-making task, and those with impairments in multiple cognitive domains showed the clearest impairments.
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Hamidul Huque, Ranmalee Eramudugolla, Benjamin Chidiac, Nicole Ee, Lauren Ehrenfeld, Fiona E. Matthews, Ruth Peters, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: This study examines sex differences in the incidence and prevalence of dementia globally, and evaluates whether country-level indicators of gender inequality account for these differences. The results show that there are no sex differences in the incidence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia, except in the 90+ age group. However, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is higher in women, and this difference is associated with gender differences in life expectancy and education.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
M. McMaster, S. Kim, L. Clare, S. J. Torres, N. Cherbuin, K. J. Anstey
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a multidomain dementia risk reduction intervention. The intervention demonstrated high acceptability, compliance, and efficacy in changing behavior.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sebastian Walsh, Ishtar Govia, Ruth Peters, Edo Richard, Blossom C. M. Stephan, Nikki-Anne Wilson, Lindsay Wallace, Kaarin J. Anstey, Carol Brayne
Summary: Dementia is a global public health challenge, and individual-level prevention strategies have limited potential. A population-level approach is needed to reduce the incidence of dementia and address global inequalities in risk. This approach can be highly cost-effective.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jesse Nicholas Cochran, Juliana Acosta-Uribe, Bianca T. Esposito, Lucia Madrigal, David Aguillon, Margarita M. Giraldo, Jared W. Taylor, Joseph Bradley, Brian Fulton-Howard, Shea J. Andrews, Natalia Acosta-Baena, Diana Alzate, Gloria P. Garcia, Francisco Piedrahita, Hugo E. Lopez, Ashlyn G. Anderson, Ivan Rodriguez-Nunez, Kevin Roberts, Devin Absher, Richard W. Myers, Gary Beecham, Christiane F. Reitz, Lindsay Rizzardi, Maria Victoria M. Fernandez, Alison Goate, Carlos E. Cruchaga, Alan Renton, Francisco S. Lopera, Kenneth Kosik
Summary: This study conducted a genetic association study on 340 individuals with the PSEN1 E280A mutation and identified 13 genetic variants associated with the age at onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Three independent loci near CLU were found to have candidate associations with clusterin. Other suggestive associations were also observed near HS3ST1, HSPG2, ACE, LRP1B, TSPAN10, and TSPAN14. These findings suggest the potential role of these genetic variants in the development of AD.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Claire M. C. O'Connor, Christopher J. Poulos, Susan Kurrle, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: This study aims to improve the physical, functional, cognitive, and behavioral issues of individuals with dementia through the implementation of evidence-based and goal-directed rehabilitation interventions. By conducting clinical audits, surveys, pilot studies, and capacity building activities, this research aims to develop and tailor an implementation protocol for dementia care in Australia.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS
(2023)
Review
Ophthalmology
Ying Xu, Jack Phu, Htein Linn Aung, Negin Hesam-Shariati, Lisa Keay, Phillip J. Tully, Andrew Booth, Craig S. Anderson, Kaarin J. Anstey, Ruth Peters
Summary: This study aims to quantify the co-existence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy (DR) with cognitive impairment or dementia. The results show that there is considerable variability in the frequency of co-occurrence between age-related cognitive impairment and eye diseases, highlighting the need for more population-based studies to determine the relationship.
Article
Neurosciences
Heidi J. Welberry, Tiffany Chau, Megan Heffernan, Juan Carlo San Jose, Louisa R. Jorm, Maria Fiatarone Singh, Perminder S. Sachdev, Kaarin J. Anstey, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, Michael Valenzuela, John J. McNeil, Henry Brodaty
Summary: The MYB trial aims to prevent cognitive decline and dementia through multidomain, web-based risk-reduction interventions. A study was conducted to explore the characteristics associated with participation in this trial. The results showed that higher educational attainment and lower self-rated quality of life were related to increased and reduced participation, respectively. Family history of Alzheimer's disease was related to increased participation, while other dementia risk factors were associated with reduced participation.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Gerontology
Amber Watts, Sarah Jen
Summary: For women, midlife represents a significant stage of transition involving changes in physiological, social, and sexual experiences. However, prior research has mainly focused on the physiological changes, neglecting the impact of social, psychological, and relational contexts on women's sexuality. This study used semi-structured interviews to explore midlife women's diverse sexual experiences and changes, revealing themes such as sexual engagement, unwanted experiences, body image, and sexual healthcare. Participants reported changes in sexual frequency and desire, influenced by their social roles, identities, previous relationships, and sexual health. They also highlighted the contrast between their own perceptions of their bodies and society's expectations of sexiness. Negative experiences with sexual healthcare resulted in a distrust of healthcare systems. The findings support previous evidence of sexual fluidity and the influence of context on women's sexuality. By challenging societal norms, participants showcased the potential of counter-narratives to combat stereotypes about midlife women's sexuality. Psychoeducational interventions are needed to improve sexual health and education for women in midlife.
JOURNAL OF WOMEN & AGING
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Rahul Ghosal, Vijay R. Varma, Dmitri Volfson, Inbar Hillel, Jacek Urbanek, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Amber Watts, Vadim Zipunnikov
Summary: This paper introduces a method for capturing the distributional nature of wearable data using user-specific quantile functions and L-moments, and applies it to the study of the association between digital gait biomarkers and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease patients. The results show that the proposed methods outperform simple distributional summaries in predictive performance and association with clinical cognitive scales.
