r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Sep 09 '24

Neuroscience Covid lockdowns prematurely aged girls’ brains more than boys’, study finds. MRI scans found girls’ brains appeared 4.2 years older than expected after lockdowns, compared with 1.4 years for boys.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/sep/09/covid-lockdowns-prematurely-aged-girls-brains-more-than-boys-study-finds
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u/mizushimo Sep 09 '24

Why would there be a gender difference if it was caused by a covid infection?

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u/dnarag1m Sep 09 '24

There are many infections and diseases that have strongly different health outcomes between genders, all things being equal. It's not a novel phenomenon.

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u/Dedj_McDedjson Sep 09 '24

Also, for families in which there is a child providing or assisting in informal care for a parent or other family member, it's usually more likely to be one of the daughters. Carers were at increased risk of infection, repeated infection, and lack of appropriate recovery and care for their own illness.

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u/RnVja1JlZGRpdE1vZHM Sep 10 '24

Citation needed.

Speaking from experience it's typically the eldest child that's going to get saddled with more responsibilities regardless of sex.