Sex differences in cognition are stable over a 10-year period in adulthood and old age.

• Sex differences in declarative memory and visuospacial ability are robust in cross-sectional studies. The present longitudinal study examined whether sex differences in cognition were present over a 10-year period, and whether age modified the magnitude of sex differences. Tests assessing episodic and semantic memory, and visuospatial ability were administered to 625 nondemented adults (initially aged 35-80 years), participating in the population based Betula study at two follow-up occasions. There was stability of sex differences across five age groups and over a 10-year period. Women performed at a higher level than men on episodic recall, face and verbal recognition, and semantic fluency, whereas men performed better than women on a task assessing visuospatial ability. Sex differences in cognitive functions are stable over a 10-year period and from 35 to 90 years of age. Decreasing levels of estrogen in women and sex differences in age-related cortical atrophy do not seem to influence cognitive sex differences.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

sex differences

memory

aging

Psychology

Psykologi

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