New thesis on polypharmacy, sex and aging

”As people age, they often live with several chronic conditions and take multiple medications at the same time - a practice known as polypharmacy. This thesis investigates how polypharmacy influences physical and cognitive functions, as well as the brain, during aging. It focuses on understanding how these effects differ between males and females, and in the presence of Alzheimer’s-like pathology”, says Francesca Eroli, doctoral student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society.

Which are the most important results?   

”We found that in aged mice, polypharmacy decreased memory performance and locomotion, and altered behavior associated to stress and anxiety, particularly in males. However, in a mouse model of amyloid pathology, one multi-drug combination actually improved memory and reduced Alzheimer’s-like pathological changes in the brain (such as amyloid plaques) and blood. These effects differed depending on whether the mice were male or female.”

How can this new knowledge contribute to the improvement of people’s health?  

”These findings show that the effects of polypharmacy depend on sex and the presence of brain disease, and suggest possible biological pathways involved. This knowledge can support the development of safer, more personalized prescribing strategies for older adults, emphasizing the importance of precision medicine over a “one-size-fits-all” approach.”

What’s in the future for you? Will you continue to conduct research?  

”I am fascinated by the field of neurodegeneration – there are still so many aspects to understand – and I would like to keep contributing to how we can translate these findings into better brain health. I plan to continue working in preclinical research, also expanding to new projects that can broaden my perspective.”