IC11: The Impact of Sex/gender on Epidemiology, Access to Healthcare, and Outcomes in Different Neurological Disorders or Injuries: "One Size Does Not Fit All"

Sunday, October 26, 2025

1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Location: ROOM: Joliet Room >>> DIRECTIONS Third Floor >>> From the Main Elevator Bank, proceed right. Turn right at the Marquette Foyer. The Joliet Room is located at the end of the hall on your left.

Corresponding Presenter(s)

Julio C. Furlan, MD, LLB, MBA, PhD, MSc, FRCPC, FAAN, FASIA

Associate Professor and Scientist
KITE Research Institute and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, and University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Presenter(s)

Tatyana Mollayeva, MD, PhD

Professor, Affiliated Scientist
KITE Research Institute , University Health Network
Toronto, ON, Canada

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Tania R. Bruno, H.BSc, MD, FRCPC, CSCN Dip (EMG), FAAPMR

Assistant Professor
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network; and University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, Canada

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Ginette Moores, MD

Assistant Professor
Mount Sinai Hospital and University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, Canada

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The research field of equity in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals living with neurological diseases or injuries is rapidly evolving on a global scale. There is a growing body of evidence on the influence of sociocultural gender and biological sex on the epidemiology, access to optimal healthcare, and outcomes in several neurological disorders. Nonetheless, the current understanding and knowledge gaps in the literature on the impact of gender and sex may dramatically vary depending upon the neurological disease or injury.
This instructional course will cover key topics on the scientific evidence regarding differences in vulnerability to four different neurological diseases or injuries of the central nervous system (including stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury) and adverse clinically and functionally relevant outcomes based on biological sex and sociocultural gender.

Learning Objectives:

Describe sex and gender differences in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of stroke throughout the lifespan.
Review the impact of changes in hormone status (menstrual cycle, pregnancy and peri-partum period, and menopause) on MS disease course and symptom burden.
Describe the scientific evidence regarding differences in vulnerability to traumatic brain injury and adverse clinically and functionally relevant outcomes based on biological sex, sociocultural gender, and intersecting parameters such as socioeconomic status, race, and cultural and ethnic diversity.
Describe the potential effects of sociocultural gender and biological sex on the epidemiology, access to optimal healthcare and outcomes of traumatic spinal cord injury.
Compare key dissimilarities on the impact of gender and sex on four different neurological diseases or injuries affecting the central nervous system.