Sex‐Specific Differences in Cognition of Mthfr Deficient Mice

Mthfr deficiency causes previously uncategorized sex-dependent (male) effects on cognition (reduced anxiety, enhanced exploration, enhanced recognition memory, and enhanced learning capacity). Thus, the efficacy of Mthfr as a target for therapeutic interventions for ameliorating cognitive deficits may vary depending on sex. Furthermore, Mthfr polymorphisms may ameliorate age associated cognitive decline in males. Future investigations should include additional cognitive assessments such as passive avoidance tests to further categorize potential sex-dependent differences between Mthfr +/- and WT mice as well as consider other criteria including age.