Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan have found that brain differences in men and women have an effect on post stroke outcomes.

Research coordinator Nicole Sylvain along her team did a study and found that both males and females are equally affected by a stroke, but females tend to have worse outcomes.

Sylvain says “We found that, for the most part, male data can be generalized for females, however, some of the metabolic markers we measured were actually different. It’s really important to do the research on both sexes.” She says it would be impossible to detect the biomarkers without using the beam line at the Canadian Light Source on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

Strokes are the third in causes of death in Canada with almost 800,000 over the age of 20 impacted by it. Sylvain says stroke is caused by a loss of blood flow to brain cells and without urgent intervention it can cause the cells to die because they constantly need energy and nutrients from the blood. Sylvain and her team are testing treatments for post-stroke recovery that could help supplement these energy losses.