Sex Differences in Cognition are Stable Over a 10-Year Period in Adulthood and Old Age |
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| Authors: | Cindy M. de Frias Lars-Göran Nilsson Agneta Herlitz |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology , Stockholm University , Stockholm, Sweden;2. Aging Research Centre, Division of Geriatric Epidemiology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm, Sweden cdefrias@psychology.su.se;4. Center for Advanced Study, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters , Oslo, Norway;5. Aging Research Centre, Division of Geriatric Epidemiology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Sex differences in declarative memory and visuospatial 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. |
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