Cognitive function in the oldest old: women perform better than men

OBJECTIVE Limited formal education is associated with poor cognitive function. This could explain sex differences in cognitive function in the oldest old. Whether limited formal education explains differences in cognitive function between elderly women and men was explored. METHODS The Leiden 85-plu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 2001-07, Vol.71 (1), p.29-32
Main Authors: van Exel, E, Gussekloo, J, de Craen, A J M, Bootsma-van der Wiel, A, Houx, P, Knook, D L, Westendorp, R G J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Aging - psychology
Atherosclerosis
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiovascular disease
cognition
Cognition - physiology
Cognition in old age
Cognitive ability
Confidence intervals
Data analysis
Dementia
depression
Depression - psychology
Education
Educational Status
elderly people
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender differences
Geriatrics
Human
Humans
Learning. Memory
Life expectancy
Male
Memory
Memory - physiology
Mental depression
Mortality
Netherlands
Neuropsychological Tests
Older people
Population
Psychological aspects
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
sex
Sex differences (Psychology)
Sex differences in education
Sex Distribution
Studies
Women
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Summary:OBJECTIVE Limited formal education is associated with poor cognitive function. This could explain sex differences in cognitive function in the oldest old. Whether limited formal education explains differences in cognitive function between elderly women and men was explored. METHODS The Leiden 85-plus Study is a population based study investigating all 85 year old inhabitants of Leiden with an overall response rate of 87%. A sample of 599 participants were visited at their place of residence. The mini mental state examination was completed by all participants. Cognitive speed and memory were determined with four neuropsychological tests in participants with a mini mental state examination score higher than 18 points. RESULTS The proportion of women with limited formal education was significantly higher than that of men (70% v 53%, p=0.001), but women had better scores for cognitive speed and memory than men (p
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.71.1.29