Brain-related sexual dimorphism in tuberous sclerosis complex: an overlooked matter

Trends Mol Med. 2025 Jan 21:S1471-4914(25)00002-4. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2025.01.002. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Biological sex strongly impacts tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) symptoms like epilepsy and autism. However, the mechanisms driving this influence remain largely unknown. Here, we discuss how sex-specific changes in brain synapses and neural networks may drive these differences, offering insights that could be crucial for developing targeted therapies for TSC.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; epilepsy; sex dimorphism; tuberous sclerosis complex.