Sorry for cross-posting.
We are pleased to announce the next speaker for the ASA Statistics and Data Science in Aging (SDSA) Interest Group webinar series: Dr. Gillian T. Coughlan (Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School). This talk will examine sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease risk and pathology, with a focus on tau, menopause, reproductive aging, and hormone therapy. It will also explore how these differences may guide the timing of disease-modifying treatments, including anti-amyloid therapies. The webinar will be held on September 17, 2026 (Thursday) at 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM MT / 9:00 AM PT. Details about the talk, including the abstract, are provided below. We encourage you to share this exciting event with colleagues who may be interested, and we look forward to your participation in the webinar. Stay connected with us, and don’t forget to join our official ASA Interest Group.
Talk
Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Epidemiology to Pathology, Menopause, and Treatment
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately affects women, yet the reasons underlying this sex difference remain incompletely understood. This talk will examine the evidence for sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease across the disease continuum, beginning with epidemiological studies of disease burden and risk. I will then discuss evidence in vivo biomarker studies demonstrating sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease pathology, particularly in tau pathology.
Building on these findings, I will consider potential explanations for the greater burden of disease in women, with a particular focus on menopause, reproductive aging, and hormone therapy, and how these factors may influence Alzheimer’s disease risk and pathology. Finally, we will explore whether sex differences in tau pathology may inform timing of disease-modifying therapies, focusing on anti-amyloid treatments.
Together, these studies highlight the importance of considering biological sex and women’s reproductive and hormonal history in understanding Alzheimer’s disease risk.
Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2KG2Y9-LSRaXuSXwX7wMNQ
Presenter
Dr. Gillian T. Coughlan, PhD, is an investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, with particular emphasis on sex differences, women’s brain health, and the relationships among menopause, hormone therapy, and Alzheimer’s biomarkers. She combines digital cognitive assessments and advanced neuroimaging to identify individual risk factors and better understand brain changes before symptoms emerge. Dr. Coughlan earned her PhD from Norwich Medical School in the United Kingdom in 2020 and completed postdoctoral training in Canada and at Harvard/MGH. Her work has received support through an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award and an Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship
Contact
Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Panpan Zhang if you have any questions.
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Panpan Zhang
Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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