In our first episode of the XXplored Women's Brain Health podcast, our resident expert and host Dr Laura Stankeviciute from University of Gothenburg engages with leading neuroscientists Professor Liisa Galea from University of Toronto and Dr Maria Teresa Ferretti from Karolinska Institutet to explore the critical intersection of sex, gender, and brain health.
Together our guests discuss their personal journeys into neuroscience, the biological differences in brain health, the impact of hormonal changes, and the vulnerability of women to Alzheimer's disease. The conversation also addresses the barriers to inclusion in clinical research, the implications of neurosexism, and the importance of precision medicine. The episode emphasises the need for early diagnosis and the societal stigma surrounding women's health issues, while advocating for a more inclusive and evidence-based approach to brain health research and treatment.
This first show sets the scene for what will be an ongoing series of shows, delivered within the Dementia Researcher podcast.
Highlights and takeaways:
Released during Menopause Awareness Month — and ahead of World Menopause Day on 18 October — this episode shines a light on how menopause shapes women’s brain health and why it matters for ageing and dementia research.
- Sex differences shape the brain at every level – structure, hormones, immunity, and function.
- Menopause is a key vulnerability window for women’s brain ageing and Alzheimer’s risk.
- Women face higher Alzheimer’s prevalence, not just because they live longer.
- Women were excluded from trials for decades, leaving dangerous gaps in knowledge.
- Fear of neurosexism and misunderstandings of feminism slowed progress.
- Precision medicine must include sex and gender or risk missing early diagnoses.
- Research funding and clinical guidelines lag far behind need.
- Momentum is building: younger researchers and public interest are pushing change.
- Core message: Different ≠ inferior. Diversity drives discovery.
Essential links / resources mentioned in the show:
Womens Brain Ageing Project
Women’s Health Research Cluster (Canada)
NIH Policy on Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV)
A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
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