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Sex-specific behavioral changes in middle-aged mice
Nanbin Lou1,2, Yibin Zhu1, Xiaohui Du1,3,4
1Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang, China.
Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2025
Summary
Middle age brings increased anxiety and memory decline in mice. Female mice show unique deficits in motor activity, nonspatial memory, and social behavior, highlighting sex-specific aging patterns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Aging impacts cognition, motor skills, and social behavior.
- Age-related changes in middle-aged individuals, especially sex differences, are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral changes in middle-aged mice compared to young adults.
- To explore sex differences in motor function, anxiety, memory, and social behavior during aging.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral tests included open-field, elevated O-maze, novel-object recognition, Y-maze, and three-chamber sociability test.
- Comparison between middle-aged and young adult mice across both sexes.
Main Results:
- Both sexes exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial recognition memory with age.
- Middle-aged females showed reduced locomotor activity, declined nonspatial recognition memory, and altered social novelty preference.
Conclusions:
- Middle age presents distinct behavioral shifts, with females experiencing unique vulnerabilities.
- Understanding sex-specific aging is vital for early intervention and a comprehensive view of brain aging.
