Sex differences in the outcomes of modifiable lifestyle factors for cognitive aging: neuroinflammation and microglia as key underlying mechanisms.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts and literature without original data or systematic methodology.
PubMed 40766178 · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2025.1642043
What was done
This narrative mini-review summarizes published evidence regarding the effects of modifiable lifestyle factors—specifically exercise, diet, and social isolation—on microglial function, neuroinflammation, and cognitive aging, highlighting sex-specific differences.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or specific numerical results. It outlines that lifestyle factors modulate microglial contributions to synaptic plasticity, axonal myelination, adult neurogenesis, trophic factor release, and phagocytosis, resulting in sex-differentiated outcomes in brain aging.
Why it matters
It frames microglia and neuroinflammation as primary biological substrates underlying sex-specific cognitive benefits or risks linked to lifestyle behaviors in aging.
Limits
The paper provides no primary empirical data or systematic review metrics. The abstract omits sample sizes, study species (rodent vs. human), effect magnitudes, and specific outcome measures.
Cited by
- supports Microglial cells are deeply influenced by daily lifestyle factors including nutrition, sleep, and environment.