The brains of women react differently to mental disorders, which would explain why they are more often affected.
The brains of men and women differ in many ways. According to works published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, the cerebral reaction to certain diseases would not be the same, which could explain why women are more exposed to mental disorders than men.
The study is based on data from 26,683 people with mental health conditions (bipolar disorder, mood disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and 119 breast volunteers. Their brains were observed by imaging; 128 brain regions were analyzed.
Women’s brains are more active
To do this, the researchers used a precision technique based on scintigraphy: single-photon emission tomography (SPECT), which makes it possible to produce three-dimensional images and reconstructions of organs and their metabolism. The researchers were thus able to identify areas of hypoactivity or hyperactivity in the brain of patients.
The results of the study show that the brains of healthy women were more active in all areas observed than that of healthy men. In women with mental disorders, brain activity was particularly dense in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain associated with concentration and control of emotions, as well as in the limbic system, particularly associated with anxiety and the mood. In men, the centers of vision (occipital lobe) and those of coordination (temporal lobe) were more active than in women.
Men more at risk of ADHD
These results partially explain why women “show more empathy, intuition, involvement, teamwork and self-control, and why they are also more prone to anxiety, depression, insomnia and eating disorders, ”the authors explain. It also explains why men have more attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavioral problems.
Taking into account these brain differences between men and women could be useful for research, especially with regard to Alzheimer’s disease, the study concludes.
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