Gender differences of neuropsychological profiles in cognitively normal older people without amyloid pathology

To investigate the impact of sex on cognition among cognitively normal older people without amyloid pathology.

The study sample consisted of 83 males (mean age 74years, ranging from 65 to 88years) and 111 females (mean age 72years, ranging from 65 to 89years) who were cognitively normal without amyloid pathology confirmed by Pittsburgh compound B PET scan. We examined the sex discrepancies in cognition using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.

Our data showed significantly greater advantage for women than men on the tasks of verbal memory and category fluency while better performance of naming in men than women when age, education and depressive symptoms were considered.

These findings highlight the importance of considering sex differences in the interpretation of cognitive data which contribute to clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.