Research conducted by the Neurology Area ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma demonstrates that male neuroplasticity phenomena could be more effective in more severe strokes, while female ones work better in case of less extensive lesions
Rome, January 29, 2016 - The The difference between the female and male brain is an ancient and controversial topic. Recently, new techniques in the hands of scientists have made it possible to highlight, in healthy subjects, some differences that appear to be linked to sex. A study of theArea of NeurologyUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, being published in the magazine Frontiers in Neuroscience, proved one different response of the male and female brain following a stroke and led to the hypothesis that these differences may have an influence on recovery processes.
When a stroke affects one of the two hemispheres of the brain, paralysis in the opposite half of the body, or a speech disorder, frequently appears. In the immediately following phases, some changes are observed which affect both the cerebral areas close to the one affected by the stroke and those far away, in some cases even those located in the cerebral hemisphere opposite to the one affected: it is the so-called 'neuroplasticity', i.e. those functional modifications which often help to obtain a more or less complete recovery of the neurological functions lost due to the stroke, but which, under particular conditions, can interfere with recovery.
"Using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, especially the transcranial magnetic stimulation - explained the Prof. Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, Director of Neurology atUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma we found that male and female brains react differently following a stroke. In women, the changes localized in the areas of the brain closest to the lesion prevail; in humans, however, the reorganization is more evident away from the site of the stroke: this implies that Profoundly different processes for the recovery of lost functions can take place in the two sexes".
Neither modality is absolutely superior to the other in promoting recovery, but the extent of the brain damage could make the difference. The phenomena of male plasticity they might increase the chances of recovery in large brain injuries, neuroplasticity female would, on the contrary, more effective in the case of a smaller stroke. This would explain, at least in part, the differences between males and females in the ability to recover from strokes: differences that have been known for a long time, which, however, until now, no one had ever been able to explain by associating possible causes.
"These aspects - he adds Di Lazzaro can be better defined in further studies. Already now, however, deeper understanding of the influence of patient gender on stroke recovery may aid in the identification and optimization of neurorehabilitation treatments".
