Pitt Researcher to Explore the Neurological Sex-Based Divide in Dementia

University of Pittsburgh Professor Bistra Iordanova will use a $2,581,762 grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study how sex differences contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia, reports News-Medical . "The vascular system affects cognitive impairment and dementia of both men and women with Alzheimer's disease; however, research shows that the pathways, severity, and presentation seem to be different," she says. Iordanova intends to more deeply examine the brain to see how sex differences shape the linkage between neural activity and alterations in cerebral blood flow. She also will investigate the channeling of energy within the brain in real time, and how aging-related hormonal shifts may affect the brain's energy consumption. "Our approach will examine the gene expression of individual cells and use brain imaging to determine the specific cell types that contribute to neurovascular resilience," explains Iordanova. "We hope that our data will uncover personalized molecular targets for therapy and improve treatment of dementia."