The Male Body: The Default in Scientific Studies
Historically, the male body has been the default in scientific studies. Lab rats? Male. Test subjects? Men. This stark gender gap was a key focus at the Empowering Women through Brain Health conference last week.
Scientists cannot answer questions they do not see. For male neuroscientists studying the aging brain, menopause was likely never “visible,” according to Emily Jacobs, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, who spoke at the conference.
When 99.5% of neuroscience research overlooks women’s health, the mysteries of the female brain remain unsolved. The Center for BrainHealth in Dallas hosted the women’s brain health conference, featuring leading voices in the field, including Jacobs, Judith Joseph, a doctor from New York University, and Jessica Shepherd, a doctor from Sanctum Med Wellness, among others.
Experts advocated for a holistic approach to brain health, recognizing women’s experiences during life stages such as pregnancy and menopause. “Menopause is so understudied and is a process all of us have to live through,” said Mia Solis, an attendee at the conference. “It’s like pregnancy; not all pregnancies are the same, but some commonalities can help us navigate the changes. I’m here because I have a daughter, and I want to be able to help her in the future.”
The conference underscored the urgent need for a global shift in scientific culture to prioritize women’s health, emphasizing it is both understudied and underfunded. The oversight is significant given that 70% of people with Alzheimer’s and 65% of those with depression are women, according to Jacobs’ article “Bridging the neuroscience gender divide.”
One condition addressed at the conference was anhedonia, a psychological condition characterized by a lack of pleasure or interest in previously enjoyable activities. According to Joseph, the condition is becoming more prevalent because of poor brain health and excessive use of technology.
“Human beings don’t like uncertainty. … We need to know what we are dealing with, and people should know they are experiencing anhedonia,” Joseph said. She emphasized that the decline in everyday experiences outside of screens and its effects lead to a lack of brain health.
What if we address the understudied areas and use that knowledge to ask questions nobody else asks? As Dr. Judith said, “Why wait until people are depressed to do something? We can reduce depression if we are adequately informed.”
Discussions highlighted the importance of community support and proactive mental health strategies, encouraging women to take charge of their well-being. “What if we set fire to the status quo? Demand better, broader data to study women, and thousands of them? We start a revolution in neuroscience or join those who already have,” a video asked the audience at the conference.
The conversation also touched on the potential of precision brain health, which focuses on individual experiences rather than group averages, to foster proactive mental health care. “Disconnect, enjoy the food, breathe, socialize outside of social media. That’s how we take care of our brain health,” Solis said.
FAQs:
Q: What was the main topic of discussion at the conference?
A: The main topic of discussion was the gender gap in neuroscience research and its impact on women’s brain health.
Q: What were some of the key findings presented at the conference?
A: Key findings included the lack of research on women’s brain health, particularly during life stages such as pregnancy and menopause, and the need for a global shift in scientific culture to prioritize women’s health.
Q: What are some potential solutions to the gender gap in neuroscience research?
A: Potential solutions include addressing the understudied areas, using knowledge to ask new questions, and demanding better, broader data to study women.
