Rehabilitation Guidance: Women with Neurodegenerative Disease
Women living with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative diseases often differ from men when it comes to their symptoms, progression of disease, and response to treatment.
These distinct sex-related differences are outlined by Steven Markos, M.D., and Michael Galibov, D.O., at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, in a special issue of the Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics.
The article, a review of the most up-to-date research, is part of a 14-article collection on issues surrounding women and rehabilitation medicine. It notes that around 70 percent of new multiple sclerosis diagnoses are in women, possibly because testosterone may be protective. Women with Parkinson’s disease are more likely than men to present with tremor as their initial symptom. The article also noted, for instance, that women are less likely to receive deep brain stimulations, for reasons that are unclear. These and other observations of women and neurodegenerative diseases are included in the article.
“Sex-related differences exist in the presentation, natural course, and treatment considerations of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Markos. “Understanding more about these distinct differences will drive better treatment for female patients.”
The article collection, edited by the Editor-in-Chief, Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., medical director of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, along with Co-editors Kristen Harris, M.D., and Hayk Petrosyan, Ph.D., explores other issues such as women with spinal cord injuries, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, pain, and long COVID. The articles synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to guide physicians in the United States and around the world.
If you are a patient looking for expert rehabilitation care at Hackensack Meridian Health, please visit our rehabilitation services page to learn about our specialties, find locations, and schedule appointments.
