WASHINGTON, D.C. — New evidence supports that differences within and between sexes impact how neurological disorders progress and respond to treatment. The findings will be presented at Neuroscience 2026, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Scientists are discovering that some disorders behave differently depending on a person's biological sex and genetic risk factors. These differences offer potential for customized treatment based on an individual's biological and genetic profile. Two such conditions are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue experienced by 2–4% of the global population. AD is an incurable brain disorder that leads to progressive memory loss and declining brain function; it affects between 35 and 40 million people across the world, according to the World Health Organization.
Today’s new findings show that:
- People with genetic risk for AD responded differently to menopause hormone therapy (MHT) than those without that risk, and response differs by specific MHT hormonal formulation, highlighting the importance of considering genetic risk and MHT formulation before treatment. (Mateja Perović, University of Toronto)
- In menopausal rodents with genetic risk for AD, brain circuits involved in memory became especially vulnerable — supporting the idea that menopause may be a period of vulnerability for women at risk for AD. (Stephanie M. Perez, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)
- Female mice in a model of fibromyalgia remained sensitive to touch and showed greater immune activation than male mice, suggesting that sex-specific treatments may be beneficial. (Yasmin Sahlloul, University of Cincinnati)
- In a mouse model, chronic gut inflammation affected brain function and AD-related pathology differently in males and females. (Nurcan Kilic, University of North Dakota)
“These four studies illustrate the fascinating discoveries that can be made when focusing on female-specific biology or possible sex differences in AD-related symptoms and risk factors,” said Liisa Galea, PhD, Treliving Family Chair in Women's Mental Health at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and moderator of the press conference. “The research presented at Neuroscience 2026 helps us pinpoint the specific differences that may help us develop more targeted treatment using precision approaches, even for some of our most complex brain disorders.”
For complete access to Neuroscience 2026 in-person and online, request media credentials. This research was supported by national funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and private funding organizations. Find out more about the brain and sex differences on BrainFacts.
Sunday, November 15, 2026
2–3 p.m. EST
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 202B, and online for registered media
View the full schedule of press events on EurekAlert!
###
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an organization of nearly 30,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and the nervous system.