Women are more vulnerable to brain diseases - New UCLA research explains why and points to promising treatment

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), and two-thirds experience "brain fog" during menopause. New groundbreaking research led by Rhonda Voskuhl, MD, Professor of Neurology at UCLA, reveals why there are differences in cognitive decline between men and women and what can be done about it.

In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, Dr. Voskuhl and her team discovered that a gene on the X chromosome (Kdm6a) triggers heightened inflammation in women's brains. Since women carry two X chromosomes, this gene's double activity can fuel conditions like Alzheimer's, MS, and menopause-related cognitive decline. Detailed in her research paper, Dr Voskuhl was able to knock out the gene on the X chromosome in mice glial cells and found lower rates of neuropathology and MS like disease. Glial cells in the brain are known to play a major role in AD, MS and aging.

Dr. Voskuhl proposes that estrogen plays a protective role by calming this inflammation and restoring balance. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, the balance is disrupted and the protection against inflammation disappears. The "double dose" of x linked inflammation is unmasked. This opens the door to brain fog, memory loss, and disease progression.

"This research shows, for the first time, a genetic reason why women are more vulnerable to brain diseases," said Dr. Voskuhl. "It paves the way for therapies that specifically address women's brain health at different stages of life."

The findings further the promise of targeted estrogen treatments like PearlPAK^® that are designed to act directly on the brain. These approaches could transform care for millions of women by reducing brain inflammation and preserving cognitive function.

About Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl
Dr. Voskuhl is a Professor of Neurology at UCLA and a leading expert in sex differences in the brain. Her research has pioneered new understandings of how hormones and chromosomes interact to influence neurological disease and women's brain health.

About CleopatraRx™
CleopatraRX™ is a women's health company dedicated to improving brain health during menopause through targeted hormone replacement therapy. Its patented PearlPAK^® treatment is the only menopause treatment designed to target cognition. With a personalized approach and integrated telehealth delivery, CleopatraRX is reshaping how women manage cognitive symptoms during midlife and beyond.

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More information, including a copy of the paper, can be found online at the Science Translational Medicine press package at https://www.eurekalert.org/press/medpak/.

SOURCE CleopatraRX