He Alzheimerone of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases differently affects women. As detailed by the specialized media Nature, two out of three people diagnosed with this disease are womenwhich highlights significant disparity in the prevalence of this genres disorder. This phenomenon is not only limited to the number of cases, but also reflected in the way in which the disease progresses and affects the quality of life of patients.
The first documented case was that of Auguste Detera woman who died in April 1906 in Frankfurt, Germany, after experiencing a severe memory loss and episodes of extreme anguish. According to the doctor’s report Alois Alzheimerpublished in 1907, determined symptoms such as delusions, auditory hallucinations and prolonged episodes. After his death, a microscopic analysis of his brain revealed the distinctive characteristics of the disease: protein deposits Amiloid-βknown as plates, and dense fibers of Tau proteincalled neurofibrillary balls. This case marked the beginning of the scientific understanding of a disease that, more than a century later, remains a medical and social challenge.
According to Nature, Aging is the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s, But being a woman represents the second greatest risk. Although the reasons behind this disparity are not completely clear, researchers have identified several hypotheses. One of them suggests that women usually live longer than men, which increases the probability of developing age -related diseases. However, this explanation is not enough to justify the magnitude of the difference in the cases of the disease between genres.
In that sense, Lisa Mosconidirector of the Wheill Cornell woman’s brain initiative, in New York, indicated that women have a later diagnosis and a faster progression of symptoms.
During the last decade, the investigation began to focus In the different impact of the disease between men and women. Recent studies highlight the role of sex chromosomes and transition to menopause in female cognitive resistance. Dena dubalNeurologist at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF), emphasized that although there are progress, “there is still much to do.”
Biologically, women seem to resist the accumulation of amyloid-β and TAU before manifesting symptoms. According to Eider Arenaza-Urquijoneuroscientific of the Global Health Institute of Barcelona, this resilience explains the accelerated decline observed once women are diagnosed. Some studies have pointed out that women tend to accumulate more amyloid-β plaques in the brain than meneven in early stages of the disease.
Until Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia develop, women have better memory, particularly verbal and episodic, than men. This is maintained throughout life, even in old age. And, according to changes in glucose metabolism and epigenetic modifications, the brain of men biologically ages faster than that of women. However, after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the situation changes, According to Nature. Compared to men with Alzheimer’s, women with the disease experience faster cognitive impairment.
Meanwhile, Antonella Santuccione-Chadhapresident of the foundation of the brain of Basel women, said that current clinical tests do not properly capture gender differences, since women, with better verbal memory, require specific evaluations. In addition, he indicated that women receive more frequency antipsychotics and antidepressants, reflecting a more poor care standard.
The X chromosome, a carrier of 5% of human genes and enriched in cognitive functions, is a central focus on Dubal’s investigations. A 2020 study showed that mice with two X chromosomes lived more and maintained better cognitive function, regardless of their biological sex. Besides, The partial activation of the Second Chromosome X could confer a cognitive advantage in women.
Menopause also represents a critical moment. According to Mosconi, Hormonal changes affect the brain deeply. Brain image studies showed that peri- and postmenopausal women have lower glucose metabolism, reduction of brain volume and greater amyloid-β tank, compared to men of the same age. The fall in estrogen levels, key hormone in the energy regulation of the brain, could be an early trigger for Alzheimer’s in women.
This is not the only important change driven by hormones that a woman’s brain must endure; Puberty and pregnancy They also raise challenges, says Mosconi. In general, “the brain shows adaptation capacity,” he said. But this does not always happen after menopause.
Mosconi developed a fluorescent tracer to measure estrogen receptors in the brain, and found that Its density increases in older womencorrelating with memory problems. These findings reopen the debate on the possible benefits of hormonal therapy in Alzheimer’s prevention.
Beyond biological differences, Jason FlattPublic Health Researcher at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, said the social roles and stress associated with them increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, especially in women and in LGBTQ+populations. LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of depression and sleep disorders, both risk factors for cognitive deterioration.
For its part, researchers such as Shot-player Chadha They advocate integrating sex, gender, social status and other factors in clinical trials and medical treatments. According to Dubal, expand research focused on biological and social differences It is crucial to improve health care and save lives.
Despite progress in medical care, the Alzheimer still has a devastating impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from itparticularly in women. Symptoms, which include memory loss, confusion and behavioral changes, can be particularly distressing for both patients and their families. In the case of Auguste Deter, her disease led her to spend her last days in a psychiatric institution, where she died due to complications related to pressure ulcers.
Although current treatments can relieve some symptoms, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. This underlines the urgent need to continue investigating the underlying causes of the disease and develop more effective therapies.
Related news :