Scientists may have uncovered one reason why Parkinson’s disease affects men more often than women.
New research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 found that important brain cells behave differently in men and women with Parkinson’s disease.
The work was carried out by researchers at Saarland University in Germany and provides fresh insight into how the disease develops.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder in which brain cells that control movement gradually become damaged. People often develop tremors, slow movements, stiffness and balance problems.
As the disease advances, many also experience sleep disturbances, mood changes and difficulties with memory and thinking. Although age is the biggest risk factor, genes and environmental exposures also play important roles.
One long-standing mystery has been why men are diagnosed more frequently than women. Researchers estimate that men are up to twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have suspected that biological differences between the sexes contribute, but the exact mechanisms have remained largely unknown.
To investigate, Professor Julia Schulze-Hentrich and colleagues analysed donated brain tissue from people with and without Parkinson’s disease. Instead of looking only at neurons, they also studied glial cells, which support, nourish and protect nerve cells. These include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia.
Across five different brain regions, the researchers found that Parkinson’s disease caused many similar stress responses in both sexes. Cells increased production of protective proteins that help damaged proteins recover. This indicates that many basic disease processes are shared.
At the same time, several important differences emerged. Astrocytes showed sex-related differences in genes that control mitochondria, the structures that produce energy for cells.
Oligodendrocytes also displayed differences in genes involved in maintaining myelin, the insulating layer that allows nerve signals to travel efficiently. These findings suggest that support cells may respond differently to Parkinson’s disease in men and women.
The work builds on the team’s earlier research showing that DNA methylation patterns differ between male and female patients. DNA methylation acts as a chemical switch that changes how active genes are without altering the DNA sequence itself. Environmental factors such as pesticide exposure may interact with these genetic control systems.
Researchers believe these newly discovered differences may help explain why symptoms progress differently between men and women and why patients sometimes respond differently to treatment. Understanding these biological differences could eventually lead to more accurate risk prediction and treatment plans tailored to each patient.
The researchers also argue that future Parkinson’s studies should routinely analyse male and female participants separately. Ignoring sex differences may hide valuable information that could improve future therapies.
This study fills an important gap because previous research has concentrated mainly on neurons and often included mostly male samples. However, the investigation involved a relatively small number of donated brains, so larger international studies are needed.
In addition, the findings were presented at a scientific conference rather than in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning they should be considered preliminary until confirmed. Even so, the research offers promising new evidence that sex-specific biology may become an important part of future Parkinson’s disease research and personalised medicine.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health..
Source: Saarland University.
