Abstract

Age is the greatest risk factor for Parkinsons disease (PD) which causes progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons, with males at greater risk than females. We found that vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) expression mediates vulnerability to age-related DA neurodegeneration in a sex-dependent manner, providing a new mechanism for sex differences in selective DA neuron vulnerability. These findings lay the groundwork for novel therapeutic strategies to boost neuronal resilience throughout aging.