Sex-related differences in Huntington's disease: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder.
• Emerging evidence suggests sex-specific differences in HD manifestation and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on sex-related differences in HD.
• To cover genetic, clinical, biomarker, and treatment aspects.
• To identify knowledge gaps in sex-specific HD research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Inclusion of studies on sex/gender differences in genetically confirmed HD or at-risk individuals.
• Exclusion of reviews, animal studies, theses, and non-English papers.

Main Results:

• Paternal transmission linked to CAG repeat expansion and earlier onset.
• Women reported more depression and functional impairment; men more apathy.
• Distinct medication patterns observed: women more antidepressants/anxiolytics, men more antipsychotics.
• Exploratory biomarker findings suggest sex-specific differences in body composition, neuroimaging, and hormones.

Conclusions:

• Sex-related differences are evident in HD genetic transmission, psychiatric symptoms, functional decline, and medication use.
• Biomarker data hint at additional sex-specific biological signatures in HD.