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Brain structural changes in women and men during midlife
J Y Guo1, M Isohanni2, J Miettunen3
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Box 189 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
Neuroscience Letters
|January 19, 2016
Summary
Midlife brain changes show sex differences. Women experience greater total brain volume reduction, while men exhibit more localized reductions in specific mid-line areas, potentially impacting behavior and health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Anatomy
- Aging Research
Background:
- Brain development and structural changes exhibit sex-based differences throughout life.
- Adult and old age are characterized by accelerating brain volume reductions, particularly beyond age 35.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in brain structural changes during midlife.
- To compare total and regional brain volume changes between men and women aged 33-44.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MRI brain scans from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort (43 men, 28 women).
- Scans were conducted at two time points: ages 33-35 and 42-44.
- Employed FSL SIENA software to analyze total percentage brain volume change (PBVC) and regional brain changes.
Main Results:
- Women demonstrated a significantly greater total PBVC compared to men (-4.03% in women vs. -3.21% in men).
- Women showed greater widespread regional brain reduction than men.
- After controlling for total volume change, men exhibited greater relative reduction in specific areas like the precentral and paracingulate gyri.
Conclusions:
- Significant sex differences exist in midlife brain structural changes.
- Women experience more overall brain volume loss and outer surface reduction, whereas men show more mid-line surface reduction.
- These distinct patterns of brain change may contribute to sex-specific differences in midlife behavior and health.
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