Sex-related differences in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A 2-[¹⁸F]FDG-PET study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
• Understanding sex-based differences in neurological disorders is crucial for targeted treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-related differences in brain metabolism and connectivity in ALS patients and healthy controls.
• To determine if sex is a significant factor influencing brain function in ALS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2-[18F]FDG-PET imaging in 260 ALS patients (130 male, 130 female) and 168 healthy controls (84 male, 84 female).
• Matched ALS groups for onset, cognition, and disease stage; matched controls for age.
• Performed differential network analysis to assess brain connectivity.

Main Results:

• Male ALS patients exhibited relative hypometabolism in frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices compared to female ALS patients.
• Female ALS patients showed higher connectivity in specific frontal and cingulate regions.
• No significant sex-related brain metabolism or connectivity differences were found in healthy controls.

Conclusions:

• Sex is a major determinant of brain metabolism and connectivity patterns in ALS.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering sex in ALS research and clinical practice.