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

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008

Review

. 2018 Sep;14(9):1171-1183.

doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

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

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.

PMID: 29907423
PMCID: PMC6400070
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008

Review

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

Rebecca A Nebel et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Sep.

. 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.

PMID: 29907423
PMCID: PMC6400070
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.04.008

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Aggarwal serves as consultant for Merck & Co., Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. and receives research support from Eli Lilly & Co., Novartis, Amgen Inc., and Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Kantarci serves on the Data Safety Monitoring Board for Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. Dr. Mormino served as a consultant to Biogen and Eli Lilly & Co. Dr. Maki received honoraria from Mylan. Dr. Mielke served as a consultant to Lysosomal Therapeutics, Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. and receives unrestricted research grants from Biogen, Lundbeck, and Roche.

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References

1. Association As. 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. 2017.
1. Jack CR Jr., Knopman DS, Jagust WJ, Petersen RC, Weiner MW, Aisen PS, et al. Tracking pathophysiological processes in Alzheimer’s disease: an updated hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12:207–16. - PMC - PubMed
1. Armstrong RA. What causes alzheimer’s disease? Folia Neuropathol. 2013;51:169–88. - PubMed
1. IOM. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? In: Medicine Io, editor.: Institute of Medicine; 2001. - PubMed
1. Carter CL, Resnick EM, Mallampalli M, Kalbarczyk A. Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations for future research. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21:1018–23. - PubMed

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[1] Association As. 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. 2017.

[2] Association As. 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. 2017.

[3] Jack CR Jr., Knopman DS, Jagust WJ, Petersen RC, Weiner MW, Aisen PS, et al. Tracking pathophysiological processes in Alzheimer’s disease: an updated hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12:207–16. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Jack CR Jr., Knopman DS, Jagust WJ, Petersen RC, Weiner MW, Aisen PS, et al. Tracking pathophysiological processes in Alzheimer’s disease: an updated hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12:207–16. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Armstrong RA. What causes alzheimer’s disease? Folia Neuropathol. 2013;51:169–88. - PubMed

[6] Armstrong RA. What causes alzheimer’s disease? Folia Neuropathol. 2013;51:169–88. - PubMed

[7] IOM. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? In: Medicine Io, editor.: Institute of Medicine; 2001. - PubMed

[8] IOM. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? In: Medicine Io, editor.: Institute of Medicine; 2001. - PubMed

[9] Carter CL, Resnick EM, Mallampalli M, Kalbarczyk A. Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations for future research. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21:1018–23. - PubMed

[10] Carter CL, Resnick EM, Mallampalli M, Kalbarczyk A. Sex and gender differences in Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations for future research. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21:1018–23. - PubMed

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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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