Sex differences in cognitive trajectories in clinically normal older adults.
Open accessAbstract
Age effects on cognitive functioning are well-documented, but effects of sex on trajectories of cognitive aging are less clear. We examined cognitive ability across a variety of measures for 1,065 to 2,127 participants (mean baseline age 64.1 to 69.7 years) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who were repeatedly tested over a mean follow-up interval of 3.0 to 9.0 years with a mean of 2.3 to 4.4 assessments. Memory and other cognitive tests were administered at each visit, assessing mental status, verbal learning and memory, figural memory, language, attention, perceptuomotor speed and integration, executive function, and visuospatial ability. Importantly, participants free from cognitive impairment at all time points were used in the analyses. Results showed that for all tests, higher age at baseline was significantly associated with lower scores, and performance declined over time. In addition, advancing age was associated with accelerated longitudinal declines in performance (trend for mental status). After adjusting for age, education, and race, sex differences were observed across most tests of specific cognitive abilities examined. At baseline, males outperformed females on the 2 tasks of visuospatial ability, and females outperformed males in most other tests of cognition. Sex differences in cognitive change over time indicated steeper rates of decline for men on measures of mental status, perceptuomotor speed and integration, and visuospatial ability, but no measures on which women showed significantly steeper declines. Our results highlight greater resilience to age-related cognitive decline in older women compared with men.
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Previous studies have shown that women have higher initial scores on most types of cognitive tests except those measuring visuospatial ability.
“Previous studies31 have shown that women have higher initial scores on most types of cognitive tests except those measuring visuospatial ability.”
From Sex differences in cognitive decline among US adults (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
A 2016 study of older adults in Baltimore found that men had steeper rates of decline on 4 of 12 cognitive tests but no sex differences in declines on 8 of 12 cognitive tests.
“A 2016 study31 of older adults in Baltimore (mean ages 64-70 years) found that men had steeper rates of decline on 4 of 12 cognitive tests (mental status [Mini Mental State Examination], perceptuomotor speed and integration, visual memory, and visuospatial ability) but no sex differences in declines on 8 of 12 cognitive tests (verbal learning and memory, object recognition and semantic retrieval,”
From Sex differences in cognitive decline among US adults (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
Women demonstrate stronger verbal cognitive skills than men.
“Studies have consistently found evidence of sex differences in baseline cognitive functioning with women demonstrating stronger verbal cognitive skills than men, but men demonstrating stronger visuospatial skills than women (eg, mental rotations).31,43”
From Sex differences in cognitive decline among US adults (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
Men demonstrate stronger visuospatial skills than women.
“Studies have consistently found evidence of sex differences in baseline cognitive functioning with women demonstrating stronger verbal cognitive skills than men, but men demonstrating stronger visuospatial skills than women (eg, mental rotations).31,43”
From Sex differences in cognitive decline among US adults (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
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Cites
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Self-citation
- Authors
- McCarrey, A. C., An, Y., Kitner-Triolo, M. H., Ferrucci, L., & Resnick, S. M.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Resnick, Susan M.
- Venue
- Psychology and Aging
- Published
- 2016-03
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 166-175
- ISSN
- 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1498
- PMC
- PMC4783196
- OpenAlex
- W2257914755
- Cited by
- 452
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 47.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- sex differences, cognitive aging, cognitive trajectories, older adults, cognitive decline, visuospatial ability, executive function, verbal learning and memory, language, attention, mental status, Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Attention, Cognition, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Language, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Space Perception, Verbal Learning, Baltimore, Executive Function
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