Sex differences, driven in part by steroid hormones, shape the structure and function of the brain throughout the lifespan and manifest across brain health and disease. The influence of steroid hormones on neuroplasticity, particularly in the adult hippocampus, differs between the sexes, which has important implications for disorders and diseases that compromise hippocampus integrity, such as depression and Alzheimer disease. This Review outlines the intricate relationship between steroid hormones and hippocampal neuroplasticity across the adult lifespan and explores how the unique physiology of male and female individuals can affect health and disease. Despite calls to include sex and gender in research, only 5% of neuroscience studies published in 2019 directly investigated the influence of sex. Drawing on insights from depression, Alzheimer disease and relevant hippocampal plasticity, this Review underscores the importance of considering sex and steroid hormones to achieve a comprehensive understanding of disease susceptibility and mechanisms. Such consideration will enable the discovery of personalized treatments, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for all.

性别差异部分由类固醇激素驱动，在整个生命周期中塑造大脑的结构和功能，并表现在大脑健康和疾病中。类固醇激素对神经可塑性的影响，特别是在成人海马体中，因性别而异，这对损害海马体完整性的疾病和疾病具有重要意义，例如抑郁症和阿尔茨海默病。这篇综述概述了类固醇激素与海马神经可塑性在成人生命周期中的错综复杂关系，并探讨了男性和女性个体的独特生理机能如何影响健康和疾病。尽管呼吁将性和性别纳入研究，但在 5 年发表的神经科学研究中，只有 2019% 直接调查了性的影响。借鉴抑郁症、阿尔茨海默病和相关海马可塑性的见解，本综述强调了考虑性和类固醇激素以全面了解疾病易感性和机制的重要性。这种考虑将使发现个性化治疗方法成为可能，最终改善所有人的健康结果。