Project Leader
| Jian Sima, PhD |
|
Clinical Pharmacokinetics Laboratory, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China Email: simajian@cpu.edu.cn |
Sex is a key determinant of aging trajectories and healthspan, exemplified by the “mortality–morbidity paradox,” where women live longer than men yet experience a greater burden of chronic diseases. This reflects sex-specific aging patterns shaped by genetic, hormonal, and immune factors. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exemplifies this disparity: women have nearly twice the risk and show faster cognitive decline and brain atrophy than men. Beyond lifespan, these differences may result from accelerated tau propagation, stronger neuroinflammatory responses, and loss of estrogen during menopause. Notably, sex also influences APOE-mediated lipid metabolism, a key pathway governing Aβ clearance, neuronal resilience, and synaptic maintenance, suggesting that distinct APOE–lipid interactions in men and women may underlie their differential vulnerability to AD.
Team member:
Dr. Zhoutong Tian
