FENS News, Neuroscience News

Barcelona, Spain: New research presented today (Wednesday) at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 [1] has discovered some of the genetic changes in brain cells that may help to explain why more men than women develop Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. It affects approximately 9.4 million people worldwide and it is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially as populations age. Around 90% of cases are thought to be caused by a combination of genetic variations and environmental and lifestyle factors. PD is 1.5-to 2-fold more common in men than women, but the reasons for this difference are not clear. Men also experience a faster decline in their thinking abilities and faster progression of difficulties with everyday living.