A spectrum of factors influence women’s health, and neurology is no exception. At the biological level, sex differences such as hormonal changes during menarche, pregnancy, and menopause, and subtle influences sex hormones have on gene expression may affect symptoms and onset of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. Cultural mores mean that women do most of the caregiving for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, even as they are at greater risk than men for developing the condition. Even history plays a part, as for generations women have been left out of clinical trials for new treatments.
As part of Women’s History Month, several Duke neurologists agreed to discuss gender differences and concerns relevant to women in their areas of expertise. In our first entry, Suma Shah, MD, talks about multiple sclerosis, which is more than twice as common in women as it is in men. Shah answers questions about MS,including why this disease affects women more than men, how women with MS can cope with symptoms and find work-life balance, and what we’ve learned about MS over the past decade.