Khaberni - In a new step towards understanding the differences between men and women, a recent study revealed widespread differences in gene activity within the brain that may explain the variance in the incidence of certain neurological and psychological disorders. According to a report on Medical Xpress, these differences extend to the level of the cells themselves, not just the general structure of the brain.
The research indicates that the researchers analyzed more than a million cell nuclei from the brains of 30 people, across six different areas of the cerebral cortex, using advanced techniques to study gene expression within each individual cell.
The results showed the presence of more than 3,000 genes that differ in their activity between males and females, whether in terms of their operation or their level of protein production.
Unequal differences within the brain
These differences were not evenly distributed, as they appeared stronger in certain areas, such as the fusiform cortex associated with face recognition and complex visual processing.
Clear differences were also observed in the brain's supporting cells, known as glial cells, which play an important role in protecting nerve cells and regulating their environment.
The study showed that some genes that differ between the sexes are also associated with diseases that affect disproportionately, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as Alzheimer's and depression.
This indicates that biological differences may play a role in determining susceptibility to these disorders.
Despite the importance of the findings, the study does not provide a direct explanation for these differences, but opens the way for a deeper understanding of the genetic and environmental factors that affect the brain.
The impact of these differences may also change with age or lifestyle, which requires further studies.
The researchers believe that these results could help in the future development of tailored treatments that take into consideration the biological differences between men and women.. However, this study reveals that the difference between the sexes is not limited to shape or general functions, but extends to the genetic code within the brain, which may explain some of the complexity of neurological and psychological diseases.
