Men and women get Alzheimer's differently

Brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's affect men and women differently. The researchers urge colleagues to keep these differences in mind when studying treatment methods.

Diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's occur when nerve cells in the brain and nervous system stop working and eventually die.

The changes are associated with the destruction of the so-called blood-brain barrier - the border of cells, which does not allow molecules of the wrong type to enter the brain from the bloodstream and damage it.

Published studies have shown differences in the blood-brain barrier in men and women. Some studies show that barriers may be stronger in women than in men, and they are constructed and behave differently.

This may be due to known gender differences. For example, Alzheimer's disease is more common in elderly women than in men, while Parkinson's disease affects men more often and tends to have more serious consequences.