TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex and gender-related differences in neurological diseases
T2 - current challenges and recommendations for clinical practice
AU - Cicero, Calogero Edoardo
AU - Angelini, Luca
AU - Abbadessa, Gianmarco
AU - Bruno, Matilde
AU - Fiume, Giulia
AU - Nucera, Bruna
AU - Ornello, Raffaele
AU - Arabia, Gennarina
AU - Giuliano, Loretta
AU - Guarnieri, Biancamaria
AU - Lugaresi, Alessandra
AU - Perani, Daniela
AU - Sacco, Simona
AU - Tassorelli, Cristina
AU - Nicoletti, Alessandra
AU - Pellecchia, Maria Teresa
AU - SIN Gender Neurology Study Group and SinDem Sex and gender differences in dementia Study Group
N1 - Lehr-KH Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus, Medical Private University (PMU), Merano-Meran, Italy
PY - 2026/1/6
Y1 - 2026/1/6
N2 - Neurological diseases include a large variety of conditions ranging from inflammatory, vascular and neurodegenerative disorders to epilepsy and headache. The impact of sex and gender on various aspects of these conditions (epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment, and management of pregnancy and breastfeeding) is still not entirely taken into consideration, despite a rapidly increasing body of evidence. This position paper covers six neurological conditions (Alzheimer's Disease, Cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, Headache disorders, Multiple Sclerosis) providing an overview of available evidence on sex and gender differences, identifying knowledge gaps and providing recommendations for clinical practice and future studies. We recommend taking into consideration modifiable sex and gender specific risk factors, the role of hormones across women's lifespan and a personalized treatment approach based on gender. We also recommend that future efforts should be devoted to increase the representation of women in clinical studies, to promote sex and gender-based guideline production and to better characterize the safety profile in pregnancy of newer drugs.
AB - Neurological diseases include a large variety of conditions ranging from inflammatory, vascular and neurodegenerative disorders to epilepsy and headache. The impact of sex and gender on various aspects of these conditions (epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment, and management of pregnancy and breastfeeding) is still not entirely taken into consideration, despite a rapidly increasing body of evidence. This position paper covers six neurological conditions (Alzheimer's Disease, Cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, Headache disorders, Multiple Sclerosis) providing an overview of available evidence on sex and gender differences, identifying knowledge gaps and providing recommendations for clinical practice and future studies. We recommend taking into consideration modifiable sex and gender specific risk factors, the role of hormones across women's lifespan and a personalized treatment approach based on gender. We also recommend that future efforts should be devoted to increase the representation of women in clinical studies, to promote sex and gender-based guideline production and to better characterize the safety profile in pregnancy of newer drugs.
KW - Humans
KW - Nervous System Diseases/therapy
KW - Female
KW - Sex Characteristics
KW - Male
KW - Pregnancy
U2 - 10.1007/s10072-025-08623-8
DO - 10.1007/s10072-025-08623-8
M3 - Original Article
C2 - 41493656
SN - 1590-1874
VL - 47
SP - 108
JO - NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
JF - NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
IS - 1
M1 - 108
ER -