Sex differences in neuroimaging biomarkers in healthy subjects and dementia

Several studies have investigated sex differences in morphological and functional neuroimaging in healthy conditions, but few data are available on the specific effect of sex on neuroimaging in dementia and related disorders. Sex is more often considered as a confounding variable than as a variable of interest. Furthermore, especially in the dementia field, the data are drawn from studies designed for other specific aims, and discrepant results are often found due to different equipment, studied cohorts, and analytical methods. Notably, investigating this aspect would be pivotal to better understand how age-related diseases, such as dementia, differentially impact on the main correlates of brain functions in males and females. We review some of the main findings of the literature, highlighting the need for a more systematic appraisal of sex and even gender differences in future neuroimaging studies.