Neurological disease does understand sex

(Madrid. Lucila Rodríguez)

Neurological diseases, disorders of the nervous system that have an impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from them, affect women and men differently, as has begun to be evidenced in various studies and even in the book ‘Neurology and Women’, published by the Spanish Society of Neurology and in which Dr. Monica Kurtis, Director of the Movement Disorders Unit of the Ruber International Hospital, has participated.

Precisely in this book we wanted to provide an update on the diagnosis and treatment of the most prevalent pathologies of the nervous system throughout the life of women, with special emphasis on how neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s or stroke, affect them differently.

It has been shown that women with Parkinson’s disease may suffer more non-motor symptoms than men, such as cognitive or emotional problems, which makes early diagnosis and proper management of these patients more difficult. “It has been seen that they suffer more depressive and anxiety symptoms. In addition, men are operated on more than women and we believe it is because this possibility is offered less to women or because they are more afraid of undergoing surgery,” Dr. Kurtis explained.

Likewise, hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle, as well as at other stages of a woman’s life, may also play a crucial role in how neurological diseases manifest themselves in these patients. In fact, some studies suggest that sex hormones, such as estrogens, may influence the progression and severity of certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or functional neurological disorder.

Functional neurological disorder: the “reflection of gender discrimination”.

On this last pathology, Dr. Kurtis, together with Dr. María Luisa Almarcha Menargues, has written a chapter in the book ‘Neurology and Women’ in which they explain that these disorders are a “disaster box” composed of very frequent syndromes, often disabling, and which produce variable clinical manifestations and include tremor, gait disorders, weakness, dizziness, dissociative crises, sensory and cognitive alterations.

However, despite their high incidence, these diseases are a “reflection of the gender discrimination” suffered by women who, in this case, are often overdiagnosed while men are diagnosed late. “They are a feminist cause because, although it is not essential, a traumatic history increases the probability of developing one of these disorders,” the doctors explain.

Finally, as in other diseases more prevalent in women, they lament the lack of investment and resources when it comes to funding research and providing the social and healthcare systems with qualified personnel and sufficient time to adequately address these patients.

“As society moves towards parity, as neurologists and therapists involved in the care of these patients, we can contribute to a more egalitarian approach to these disorders. The prognosis of NFTs will improve as we increase awareness of the suffering of our patients, remove the diagnostic stigma, invest effort in our training, and contribute to research,” say both doctors.