Women with Down syndrome may experience more severe progression of Alzheimer’s disease than men, even though both sexes are typically diagnosed at the same age. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, women appear to carry a higher burden of two hallmark Alzheimer’s-related proteins — beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau — compared to men.
The findings suggest a need for sex-specific approaches to both Alzheimer's research and treatment strategies, especially in the context of designing clinical trials.
While prior research has indicated that women with Down syndrome may live longer with dementia than men, few studies have focused on potential sex differences in brain pathology.
To explore this further, researchers examined postmortem brain samples from individuals with Down syndrome, measuring the accumulation of beta amyloid and tau proteins. They found significantly higher levels of these proteins in women, particularly in the occipital lobe — a region also notably affected in sporadic, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
The study’s findings may have broad implications for how clinicians time interventions and interpret results in trials involving patients with Down syndrome. “If women with Down syndrome are further along in disease progression at the time of diagnosis, it could change how we time interventions and interpret outcomes in clinical trials,” said Elizabeth Head, Professor of Pathology at UC Irvine.
Ultimately, this research could inform more targeted and effective therapeutic strategies not only for individuals with Down syndrome but also for the wider Alzheimer's population.
Reference: Andrews EJ, Ngo PT, Pascual JR, Gonzalez F, Phelan M, Wright ST, Harp J, Schmitt F, Lai F, Lao PJ, Brickman AM, Kofler J, Ikonomovic MD, Head E; ABC‐DS Consortium. Age and sex are associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology in Down syndrome. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Jul;21(7):e70408. doi: 10.1002/alz.70408. PMID: 40673442; PMCID: PMC12268376.
Weekend Habits Linked to Spike in Sleep Apnoea Severity: Study Finds
Late nights, weekend alcohol, and smoking could be doing more than just disrupting sleep—they may be triggering a newly identified sleep health issue called "social apnea", according to a global study led by Flinders University researchers. The findings, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, shed light on a significant weekend spike in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) severity, driven by lifestyle choices and irregular sleep routines. The study analysed sleep data from over 70,000 people across the world and found a consistent, measurable rise in OSA severity on weekends. Researchers from FHMRI Sleep Health coined the term "social apnea" to describe this weekend-specific deterioration in sleep quality.
The analysis revealed that participants were 18% more likely to experience moderate to severe OSA on Saturdays compared to mid-week. Men were more affected than women, with a 21% increased risk versus 9%. Younger adults under 60 were particularly vulnerable, with a 24% rise in weekend OSA risk, while those over 60 saw a 7% increase. Changes like sleeping in for over 45 minutes worsened apnea severity by 47%.
Professor Danny Eckert, Director of FHMRI Sleep Health and senior author of the study, noted, “We don’t yet know exactly why, but alcohol use, lighter sleep, and less consistent use of OSA therapies likely play a role.”
A companion study published in Nature’s Communications Medicine found similar patterns with seasonal variability in OSA severity, with summer and winter increasing risks by up to 19%.
Professor Eckert emphasized the need for multi-night sleep assessments: “Relying on a single-night sleep study may miss important variations, leading to underdiagnosis or misclassification of OSA severity.” “Try to keep the same sleep schedule throughout the week and weekend, ensuring that you get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night,” he says.
Reference: “Social Apnea”: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Exacerbated on Weekends, Pinilla, Lucía et al., 2025, doi: 10.1164/rccm.202505-1184RL, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, American Thoracic Society - AJRCCM
Study Links Common Painkiller Use in Pregnancy to Higher Autism, ADHD Risk in Children
Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen — a widely used over-the-counter pain reliever — may be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study published in BMC Environmental Health. Conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the study is the first to apply the gold-standard Navigation Guide methodology to assess the quality and consistency of existing scientific literature on this subject.
Acetaminophen, known globally as paracetamol, is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever relief during pregnancy. More than half of pregnant women worldwide reportedly use the drug. While it has long been considered the safest option during pregnancy, the Mount Sinai-led review of 46 studies involving over 100,000 participants now challenges that assumption.
Using the Navigation Guide Systematic Review framework, the team evaluated each study’s risk of bias, data completeness, and overall evidence strength. Their analysis revealed that higher-quality studies were more likely to find a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.
“Our findings show that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD,” said Dr. Diddier Prada, lead author and Assistant Professor of Population Health Science and Policy at Mount Sinai. “Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications.”
The study also discussed potential biological mechanisms, including oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and epigenetic changes affecting fetal brain development. While it does not establish causation, the findings support stronger warnings, limited use under medical supervision, and an urgent need for safer alternatives.
Dr. Prada cautioned, “Pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors. Untreated pain or fever can also harm the baby.”
With rising rates of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder globally, the study underscores the need for revised clinical guidelines and enhanced patient-provider communication.
Reference: Prada, D., Ritz, B., Bauer, A.Z. et al. Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology. Environ Health 24, 56 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0
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