TY - JOUR

T1 - Allostatic load and women's brain health

T2 - A systematic review

AU - Kerr, Philippe

AU - Kheloui, Sarah

AU - Rossi, Mathias

AU - Désilets, Marie

AU - Juster, Robert Paul

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020

PY - 2020/10

Y1 - 2020/10

N2 - Allostatic load represents the ‘wear and tear’ of chronic stress on the brain and body that may differ between men and women. A small but growing number of studies are assessing allostatic load in relation to mental health. The objective of this systematic review was to (1) assess sex differences in allostatic load and (2) identify allostatic load associations that are specific to women. We systematically searched for allostatic load studies that included psychosocial causes and/or psychiatric consequences. Our search focused on allostatic load studies that disaggregated by sex and that include women. Sixty-two studies were included in this systematic review. First, men appear to have higher allostatic load than women. Second, women show gender-specific variation for numerous factors such as age, race/ethnicity, adversities, social support, and health behaviors that influence associations between allostatic load and mental health. Recommendations are made to guide researchers advance sex and gender approaches.

AB - Allostatic load represents the ‘wear and tear’ of chronic stress on the brain and body that may differ between men and women. A small but growing number of studies are assessing allostatic load in relation to mental health. The objective of this systematic review was to (1) assess sex differences in allostatic load and (2) identify allostatic load associations that are specific to women. We systematically searched for allostatic load studies that included psychosocial causes and/or psychiatric consequences. Our search focused on allostatic load studies that disaggregated by sex and that include women. Sixty-two studies were included in this systematic review. First, men appear to have higher allostatic load than women. Second, women show gender-specific variation for numerous factors such as age, race/ethnicity, adversities, social support, and health behaviors that influence associations between allostatic load and mental health. Recommendations are made to guide researchers advance sex and gender approaches.

KW - Allostatic load

KW - Chronic stress

KW - Mental health

KW - Sex and gender

KW - Sex-specific

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089094132&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100858

DO - 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100858

M3 - Review

C2 - 32758482

AN - SCOPUS:85089094132

VL - 59

JO - Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

JF - Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

SN - 0091-3022

M1 - 100858

ER -