Sex Differences In Association Research Articles

EXAMINING SEX DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS

Research has demonstrated sex-associated differences in physical activity and its benefits on cognition in older adults. The present study explored differential associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and executive function, which is known to decline with aging. N = 53 older adults without cognitive impairment (M = 73.19 years, SD = 6.53) wore accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X+) during 7 consecutive days. Activity intensity was categorized as light, moderate, or vigorous based on Freedson Adult Vector Magnitude cutpoints. Participants completed a battery of executive function tests: Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Verbal Fluency, Trail Making Test, and Stroop Color-Word Test. A cognitive composite score was created using confirmatory factor analysis. Women had a higher mean MVPA (4.57%) than men (2.64%, t (19.04) = -2.49, p = .022). However, executive function performance did not differ by sex (t (26.20) = 1.67, p =.107). The interaction between sex and time in MVPA did not predict performance on executive function, adjusting for age and education. Older age was the only significant predictor of poorer executive function (β = -0.038, p = .003). The current sample had limited engagement in MVPA (range 0.18-10.87%). These findings suggest that the amount of engagement in MVPA in a free-living environment may not be sufficient to demonstrate sex-associated differences in executive function performance. Future studies should explore executive function performance with other intensity levels and examine other areas of cognition.

Sex Differences in Associations of Cognitive Function with Perceptions of Pain in Older Adults.

Background:Sex differences in pain have been shown to exist in older adults with normal cognition and people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is unknown if sex differences in pain in older adults exist in a range of communicative older adults with varying cognitive ability from no impairment to moderately severe cognitive impairment.Objective:This study proposes to compare the association between psychophysical responses to experimental thermal pain between males and females to determine if sex differences in pain exist across the cognitive spectrum.Methods:We conducted a secondary analysis of data from an age- and sex-matched between-groups cross-sectional study examining the psychophysical response to contact heat in people with and without dementia.Results:Median age of males (n = 38) and females (n = 38) was 73 (range: 68–87) with similar distributions of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (range: 11–30). Findings revealed inverse statistically significant associations with the threshold temperature of warmth (females: r = –0.41, p = 0.010; males: r = –0.33, p = 0.044). There was an apparent divergent pattern of MMSE associations with unpleasantness ratings between the groups. At the moderate pain threshold, that difference became statistically significant (p = 0.033). Females demonstrated a positive association of MMSE with unpleasantness (r = 0.30, p = 0.072), while males demonstrated an inverse association at that respective threshold (r = –0.20, p = 0.221).Conclusions:Between-group findings suggest that patterns of responses to thermal stimulus intensity may differ between males and females with worsening cognition with females reporting significantly less unpleasantness with the percept of moderate pain and males reporting significantly higher unpleasantness with moderate pain perception.

Association between diabetes mellitus and the risk for major cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in women compared with men: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

ObjectivePrevious studies have reported sex differences in associations between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke; however, the risk for cardiac death and...

Sex difference in CHI3L1 expression levels in human brain aging and in Alzheimer’s disease

Several genetic sexual dimorphisms have been identified in animal and human brains, which may form a neural basis for sex-specific predisposition to neurological diseases. In the last years, clinical studies have observed that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects women compared with men. Chitinase-3-Like 1 protein (CHI3L1) has been frequently investigated in body fluids as a surrogate marker of neuroinflammation in AD and other neurological disorders. Nevertheless, the sex-related differences in CHI3L1 expression in the human brain has not yet been investigated. Here we aimed to evaluate the specificity of increase of CHI3L1 in five brain regions (cerebellum, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and visual cortex) of male and female controls during normal aging, as well as in AD patients. We selected ten microarray datasets from NCBI, representing normal aging (n = 1290) and AD (n = 992), and stratified the brain specimens according to age, gender and brain region. The expression levels of CHI3L1 were correlated with age and gender. Female control brain specimens showed higher CHI3L1 expression than male brains. The expression differences between men and women were most obvious in older subjects. The expression analysis of CHI3L1 in the different brain regions of AD subjects also showed sex differences; females with AD had greater expression in the cerebellum than males. Notably, sex-associated CHI3L1 expression differences in hippocampus disappeared in AD. These findings demonstrate that the expression of CHI3L1 in the brains of cognitively unimpaired subjects and AD patients is closely linked to age and sex, which was most obvious in the cerebellum. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Associations Between Motives for Casual Sex, Depression, Self-Esteem, and Sexual Victimization.

People's motives for casual sex moderate associations between their sexual behavior and the outcomes they experience. Derived from self-determination theory, autonomous motives for casual sex (e.g., I wanted the fun and enjoyment) and non-autonomous motives (e.g., I wanted to please someone else) correlated in previous research differentially with measures of well-being and incidence of casual sex. In a sample of American college students (N = 284), we replicated these prior findings and extended them as follows: autonomous and non-autonomous motives for sex were correlated with two measures of casual sex (i.e., the three behavior questions from the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory; the number of partners with whom participants had penetrative sex but did not wish to become emotionally involved); two measures of well-being (i.e., self-esteem, depression), and a measure of overall sexual victimization (i.e., a combined score from the Sexual Experiences Survey). We found that autonomous motives were more strongly associated with casual sexual behavior than were non-autonomous motives in both sexes. Autonomous motives were positively associated with sexual victimization in women but not in men. Compared to autonomous motives, sex for non-autonomous motives was linked to less self-esteem in both sexes, and with more depression and sexual victimization in women. Sex differences in associations between motives and victimization persisted even when the general effects of participant's sex and casual sex were controlled in hierarchical regressions. Our findings further revealed the importance of agency (or lack thereof) in predicting sexual behavior and psychological health.

Sex-Associated Differences in the Handgrip Strength of Elderly Individuals.

This study aimed to identify sex-specific factors associated with handgrip strength in elderly individuals. The analysis cohort comprised 1,197 men and 1,384 women aged ≥65 years. In men, factors associated with low handgrip strength included advanced age; low body mass index; low frequency of performing flexibility exercises; limited self-care ability (which is a measure of the health-related quality of life); and the presence of diabetes, stroke, or osteoporosis (R² = 0.285, F = 7.52, p < .001). In women, the factors included advanced age, low body mass index, low frequency of performing muscle strengthening exercises, stress, and osteoarthritis (R² = 0.225, F = 4.17, p < .001). Effective health-promoting interventions for elderly individuals require the development of individualized programs that enhance handgrip strength while considering sex-related factors.

­­Age-Dependent Sexual Dimorphism in the Adult Human Gut Microbiota

Numerous studies have established the importance of the gut microbiota in human health. However, large-scale studies on the impact of sex and age on the gut microbiota are limited. Here we uncover unexpected age-related sex differences in the adult gut microbial composition and functionality in two large cohorts from China and the Netherlands. Compared to men, women harbor a more diverse and surprisingly stable microbiota with no robust changes associated with menopause. By contrast, men exhibit a more variable gut microbiota across broad age ranges, exhibiting strong correlations to age, testosterone levels, and multiple clinical parameters. Sex-associated differences between the gut microbiota are strongly correlated with lifestyle including smoking and alcohol intake. Interestingly, the marked sex-dependent differences between the gut microbiota in younger individuals diminish by age. Our findings provide a foundation for future studies on sex- and age-dependent effects on the impact of the gut microbiota on human health.

224. Sex Differences in Association of Inflammation and Suicidality: Findings From Two Separate Cohorts of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

224. Sex Differences in Association of Inflammation and Suicidality: Findings From Two Separate Cohorts of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Sex differences in pollinator behavior: Patterns across species and consequences for the mutualism.

Intraspecific variation in floral visitor behaviour and pollination efficiency has been much less studied than interspecific variation. Nevertheless, it is clear that large differences in these traits exist within species, and in particular between sexes within species. With the exception of a few well-studied interactions, however, the consequences of these differences in the pollinators and visited plants remain to be investigated. In this review, we document large and consistent differences in the foraging patterns of male and female pollinators that have been demonstrated to directly affect plant reproduction or that have clear potential to do so. Males and females differ in visitation frequency, type of flowers visited, and per-visit pollen transfer. Females gather more and different resources from flowers compared to males, and males generally tend to show more mobile foraging patterns than females. We argue that these sex-associated patterns have broad generality across pollinators, and that sex-associated differences can in some cases be larger than differences between species. We offer predictions about how these patterns will influence pollinator preference, specialization, and fidelity, as well as the cost, quality and quantity of pollination service to plants. In the face of increasing threats to plant-pollinator interactions, understanding their basic functioning and the variation inherent in their component parts is critical. We advocate for more attention to sex-based differences among pollinators in particular, and the consequences of intraspecific variation more broadly.

Sex Differences in Age-Associated Type 2 Diabetes in Rats-Role of Estrogens and Oxidative Stress.

Females live longer than males, and the estrogens are one of the reasons for this difference. We reported some years ago that estrogens are able to protect rats against oxidative stress, by inducing antioxidant genes. Type 2 diabetes is an age-associated disease in which oxidative stress is involved, and moreover, some studies show that the prevalence is higher in men than in women, and therefore there are sex-associated differences. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of estrogens in protecting against oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic males and females. For this purpose, we used Goto-Kakizaki rats, which develop type 2 diabetes with age. We found that female diabetic rats showed lower glycaemia levels with age than did diabetic males and that estrogens enhanced insulin sensitivity in diabetic females. Moreover, glucose uptake, measured by positron emission tomography, was higher in the female brain, cerebellum, and heart than in those from male diabetic rats. There were also sex-associated differences in the plasma metabolic profile as determined by metabolomics. The metabolic profile was similar between estrogen-replaced and control diabetic rats and different from ovariectomized diabetic rats. Oxidative stress is involved in these differences. We showed that hepatic mitochondria from females produced less hydrogen peroxide levels and exhibited lower xanthine oxidase activity. We also found that hepatic mitochondrial glutathione oxidation and lipid oxidation levels were lower in diabetic females when compared with diabetic males. Ovariectomy induced oxidative stress, and estrogen replacement therapy prevented it. These findings provide evidence for estrogen beneficial effects in type 2 diabetes and should be considered when prescribing estrogen replacement therapy to menopausal women.

Sex differences in the association of baseline c-reactive protein (CRP) and acute-phase treatment outcomes in major depressive disorder: Findings from the EMBARC study

Peripheral inflammation is associated with poor response to antidepressant treatments. However, whether sex differentially affects this association remains unknown. Participants of Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response for Clinical Care (EMBARC) with baseline plasma samples were included in this study (n = 220; male n = 75, female n = 145). Depression severity [Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17-item (HAMD-17)] was measured at baseline and weeks- 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8. Plasma c-reactive protein (CRP) was measured with commercially-available ELISA kits at baseline, week-1, and week-8. Sex difference in prediction of baseline-to-week-8 HAMD-17 change by baseline CRP was tested with sex-by-baseline-CRP-by-time interaction in mixed model analysis. Additionally, changes in CRP from baseline-to-week-8 CRP and its association with HAMD-17 changes over that period were also evaluated. Covariates included body mass index, site, smoking status, and age. There was a significant sex difference in association of baseline-to-week-8 HAMD-17 reduction with baseline CRP (p = 0.033). Higher baseline CRP was associated with lower baseline-to-week-8 HAMD-17 reduction in females (p < 0.0001) but not in males (p = 0.632). Additionally, CRP was significantly reduced (p = 0.041, effect size = 0.254) from baseline-to-week-8, but there were no sex differences in this reduction (p = 0.249). Baseline-to-week-8 changes in HAMD-17 and CRP were not significantly associated either overall (p = 0.348) or based on sex (p = 0.370). In a large study of depressed outpatients, we replicated previous findings that elevated baseline CRP levels are associated with worse antidepressant treatment outcomes. However, this effect was limited only to females. These findings emphasize the importance of studying sex differences in biological mechanisms linking inflammation and depression.

Histological and histochemical studies of the gall bladder of the graylag goose (Anser anser)

ABSTRACTWe investigated the histological structure of the graylag goose (Anser anser) gall bladder. Sections of the gall bladder were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Alcian blue (pH 2.5) for acid mucopolysaccharides, Gomori’s method for reticular fibers, Masson’s trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Verhoeff’s elastin stain. The goose gall bladder was composed of a tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica adventitia or tunica serosa. The tunica mucosa formed regularly distributed simple isometric folds plus larger, less numerous, branched folds. The luminal surface was lined by tall columnar epithelial cells that stained for both acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides. The epithelial cells formed a discontinuous striated border of interdigitating microvilli on the luminal surface. Neither a lamina muscularis nor goblet cells were observed in the tunica mucosa. Unusual findings included branched mucosal folds, discontinuous microvilli and absence of an outer longitudinal layer in the tunica muscularis. No marked sex-associated differences were found. The general histochemical and histological structures of the graylag goose gall bladder are similar to those of birds such as chukar partridge and quail, but with some unique elements that may reflect differences in organ function.

Sex Difference in Associations between Severity Level of Overactive Bladder and Perceived Stress, Depression in Korean Patients

Sex Difference in Associations between Severity Level of Overactive Bladder and Perceived Stress, Depression in Korean Patients

Association of Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Congenital Long QT Syndrome With Life-Threatening Arrhythmias in Japanese Patients

ImportanceLong QT syndrome (LQTS) is caused by several ion channel genes, yet risk of arrhythmic events is not determined solely by the responsible gene pathogenic variants. Female sex after adolescence is associated with a higher risk of arrhythmic events in individuals with congenital LQTS, but the association between sex and genotype-based risk of LQTS is still unclear.ObjectiveTo examine the association between sex and location of the LQTS-related pathogenic variant as it pertains to the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective observational study enrolled 1124 genotype-positive patients from 11 Japanese institutions from March 1, 2006, to February 28, 2013. Patients had LQTS type 1 (LQT1), type 2 (LQT2), and type 3 (LQT3) (616 probands and 508 family members), with KCNQ1 (n = 521), KCNH2 (n = 487) and SCN5A (n = 116) genes. Clinical characteristics such as age at the time of diagnosis, sex, family history, cardiac events, and several electrocardiographic measures were collected. Statistical analysis was conducted from January 18 to October 10, 2018.Main Outcomes and MeasuresSex difference in the genotype-specific risk of congenital LQTS.ResultsAmong the 1124 patients (663 females and 461 males; mean [SD] age, 20 [15] years) no sex difference was observed in risk for arrhythmic events among those younger than 15 years; in contrast, female sex was associated with a higher risk for LQT1 and LQT2 among those older than 15 years. In patients with LQT1, the pathogenic variant of the membrane-spanning site was associated with higher risk of arrhythmic events than was the pathogenic variant of the C-terminus of KCNQ1 (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.19-2.17; P = .002), although this site-specific difference in the incidence of arrhythmic events was observed in female patients only. In patients with LQT2, those with S5-pore-S6 pathogenic variants in KCNH2 had a higher risk of arrhythmic events than did those with others (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.44-2.44; P < .001). This site-specific difference in incidence, however, was observed in both sexes. Regardless of the QTc interval, however, female sex itself was associated with a significantly higher risk of arrhythmic events in patients with LQT2 after puberty (106 of 192 [55.2%] vs 19 of 94 [20.2%]; P < .001). In patients with LQT3, pathogenic variants in the S5-pore-S6 segment of the Nav1.5 channel were associated with lethal arrhythmic events compared with others (HR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.09-8.36; P < .001), but no sex difference was seen.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this retrospective analysis, pathogenic variants in the pore areas of the channels were associated with higher risk of arrhythmic events than were other variants in each genotype, while sex-associated differences were observed in patients with LQT1 and LQT2 but not in those with LQT3. The findings of this study suggest that risk for cardiac events in LQTS varies according to genotype, variant site, age, and sex.

Sex Differences in the Association of Global Amyloid and Regional Tau Deposition Measured by Positron Emission Tomography in Clinically Normal Older Adults

Mounting evidence suggests that sex differences exist in the pathologic trajectory of Alzheimer disease. Previous literature shows elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid tau in women compared with men as a function of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status and β-amyloid (Aβ). What remains unclear is the association of sex with regional tau deposition in clinically normal individuals. To examine sex differences in the cross-sectional association between Aβ and regional tau deposition as measured with positron emission tomography (PET). This is a study of 2 cross-sectional, convenience-sampled cohorts of clinically normal individuals who received tau and Aβ PET scans. Data were collected between January 2016 and February 2018 from 193 clinically normal individuals from the Harvard Aging Brain Study (age range, 55-92 years; 118 women [61%]) who underwent carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B and flortaucipir F18 PET and 103 clinically normal individuals from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (age range, 63-94 years; 55 women [51%]) who underwent florbetapir and flortaucipir F 18 PET. A main association of sex with regional tau in the entorhinal cortices, inferior temporal lobe, and a meta-region of interest, which was a composite of regions in the temporal lobe. Associations between sex and global Aβ as well as sex and APOE ε4 on these regions after controlling for age were also examined. The mean (SD) age of all individuals was 74.2 (7.6) years (81 APOE ε4 carriers [31%]; 89 individuals [30%] with high Aβ). There was no clear association of sex with regional tau that was replicated across studies. However, in both cohorts, clinically normal women exhibited higher entorhinal cortical tau than men (meta-analytic estimate: β [male] = -0.11 [0.05]; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.02; P = .02), which was associated with individuals with higher Aβ burden. A sex by APOE ε4 interaction was not associated with regional tau (meta-analytic estimate: β [male, APOE ε4+] = -0.15 [0.09]; 95% CI, -0.32 to 0.01; P = .07). Early tau deposition was elevated in women compared with men in individuals on the Alzheimer disease trajectory. These findings lend support to a growing body of literature that highlights a biological underpinning for sex differences in Alzheimer disease risk.

Sex Differences in Comorbidity Patterns of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

To investigate sex differences in associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a spectrum of comorbid disorders. The study population included all children born in Denmark from 1981 through 2013 (N= 1,665,729). Data were merged from Danish registers and information was obtained on birth characteristics, socioeconomic status, familial psychiatric history, and diagnoses of ADHD (n= 32,308) and comorbid disorders. To estimate absolute and relative risks of comorbid disorders, incidence rates and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were calculated for female and male individuals. In addition, interactions between ADHD and sex in association with comorbid disorders were estimated as HR ratios (HRRs) in female and male individuals (95% CIs). Individuals diagnosed with ADHD had significantly increased absolute and relative risks of all 12 comorbid psychiatric disorders investigated. ADHD-sex interactions were found for some comorbid disorders. Compared with male individuals, ADHD in female individuals showed a stronger association with autism spectrum disorder (HRR 1.86, 95% CI 1.62-2.14), oppositional defiant/conduct disorder (HRR 1.97, 95% CI 1.68-2.30), intellectual disability (HRR 1.79, 95% CI 1.54-2.09), personality disorders (HRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.43), schizophrenia (HRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.43), substance use disorders (HRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.38), and suicidal behavior (1.28, 95% CI 1.12-1.47). The remaining disorders showed no significant sex differences in association with ADHD. This study indicates that the association between ADHD and several comorbid disorders is stronger in female than in male individuals. These important findings add to the literature on sex differences in ADHD and suggest that female individuals diagnosed with ADHD are a more vulnerable group of patients.

Association of Patient Sex With Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Overall Survival in Advanced Cancers

Sex-associated differences in immune response are known, but a meta-analysis suggested men, compared with women, derive greater value from immunotherapy for advanced solid-organ malignant neoplasms. However, methodologic concerns and subsequent trials have placed these results in doubt. To perform an updated, comprehensive meta-analysis that assesses the efficacy of immunotherapy in advanced cancers according to patient sex. A systematic review of studies (n = 23) indexed in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Scopus from inception of these databases to October 2, 2018, was conducted. Randomized clinical trials that compared immunotherapy with standard of care in the treatment of advanced solid-organ malignant neoplasms were included if overall survival was reported as an outcome and if data stratified by patient sex were available. Observational studies, editorials, commentaries, review articles, non-peer-reviewed publications, studies that compared various immunotherapy regimens, studies that reported other measures of oncologic response, and studies that reported subgroup analyses for 1 sex only were excluded. Overall survival, with a test for heterogeneity between women and men, to assess the null hypothesis that no difference in the survival advantage of immunotherapy exists by patient sex. This meta-analysis included 23 randomized clinical trials that reported on 9322 men (67.9%) and 4399 women (32.1%); the age of most patients was in the 70s. An overall survival benefit of immunotherapy was found for both men (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.69-0.81; P < .001) and women (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.88; P = .002). Random-effects meta-analysis of study-level differences in response to immunotherapy demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the sexes (I2 = 38%; P = .60). Subgroup analyses according to disease site, line of therapy, class of immunotherapy, study methodology, and representation of women recapitulated these findings. Stratified analyses demonstrated no statistically significant association of patient sex with the efficacy of immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancers using overall survival as the outcome.

Associations between organised sport participation and classroom behaviour outcomes among primary school-aged children

IntroductionPhysical activity is positively associated with children’s classroom behaviour. However, less is known about how different types of physical activity contribute to these outcomes. This study examines associations between sport participation and classroom behaviour among primary school-aged children.MethodsParents of 568 children aged 9–11 years reported child sport participation and classroom behaviour outcomes (school functioning, inattention, classroom behaviour (fidgetiness), acting without thinking and poor concentration). Sport participation included: duration (hours/week) and type (individual; team; team and individual). Regression analyses assessed associations between sport participation and classroom behaviour outcomes. Analyses adjusted for maternal education, and objectively-measured overall physical activity, and accounted for clustering by recruitment centre. Sex differences in associations were explored as a secondary aim.ResultsIn comparison to children who did not participate in sport, children who participated in sport displayed less inattention/hyperactivity (individual sport: B = -1.00;95%CI:-1.90, -0.00; team sport:-0.88;95%CI:-1.73, -0.03) and less acting without thinking (individual sport: OR = 0.35;95%CI:0.13,0.98), after adjusting for overall physical activity. There were no sex differences in associations.ConclusionsFindings indicated sport participation, one form of physical activity, was associated with less inattention/hyperactivity and acting without thinking, over and above the influence of overall physical activity levels. Parents may consider sport as one way to contribute to their child’s overall physical activity levels, although the impact of organised sport on classroom behaviour is modest at best.

Sex differences in the association between amyloid and longitudinal brain volume change in cognitively normal older adults.

ObjectiveAmyloid positivity is a biomarker of AD pathology, yet the associations between amyloid positivity and brain volumetric changes, especially in the hippocampus, are inconsistent. We hypothesize that sex differences in associations may contribute to inconsistent findings among cognitively normal older adults.MethodsUsing linear mixed effects models, we examined the association of amyloid positivity with prospective volumetric changes (mean = 3.3 visits) of parahippocampal gyrus (phg), hippocampus, entorhinal cortex (erc), precuneus, and fusiform gyrus among 171 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants aged ≥55 years. Amyloid positivity was defined by a mean 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) distribution volume ratio (DVR) cut-off of 1.062. All analyses included age, race, sex, education, APOE e4 carrier status, and two-way interactions of these covariates with time. Two-way interaction between sex and PiB+/− status and three-way interaction of sex and PiB+/− status with time were added to assess whether sex modified associations.ResultsPiB+ status was associated with greater volumetric declines in the phg (β = −0.036, SE = 0.011, p = 0.001) and erc (β = −0.019, SE = 0.009, p = 0.045). Sex modified the association of PiB+ status and rates of volumetric declines in fusiform (β = −0.117, SE = 0.049, p = 0.019). PiB+ males had steeper rates of volumetric declines in phg (β = −0.051, SE = 0.013, p < 0.001) and erc (β = −0.029, SE = 0.012, p = 0.014) than PiB- males, while there was no difference in rates of volumetric change between PiB+ and PiB- females.ConclusionsAmyloidosis is a marker of entorhinal and parahippocampal volume loss. Amyloid positivity is a predictor of volume loss in brain regions affected by early AD pathology in men, but not women.

Sex-associated differences in excitability within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are reflective of cell-type

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a sexually dimorphic brain region which plays a key role in stress, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders. Human females have an increased susceptibility to anxiety-related disorders, however the physiological basis of this is not fully understood. Here we examined the effect of the oestrous cycle and sex on the electrophysiological properties of Type I and Type II cells in the anterolateral area of the BNST (BNSTALG) in unstressed animals. There was no significant effect of oestrous cycle on any of the parameters examined in either cell type. Compared to males, the female cohort had lower capacitance in Type I cells while having a higher capacitance in Type II cells. Type II cells also displayed decreased excitability in the female cohort. In order to confirm the effect of these populations on stress and anxiety, a correlation with behaviour on the elevated zero maze was carried out. We observed that increased excitability in Type II neurons correlated with a decrease in anxiety-like behaviour. These sex-specific differences in excitability may contribute to altered susceptibility to anxiety-related disorders.