Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning with Aging in the Netherlands

Astrid C J Nooyens; Hanneke A H Wijnhoven; Laura S Schaap; Lena D Sialino; Almar A L Kok; Marjolein Visser; W M Monique Verschuren; H Susan J Picavet; Sandra H van Oostrom

doi:10.1159/000520318

Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning with Aging in the Netherlands

Astrid C J Nooyens, Hanneke A H Wijnhoven, Laura S Schaap, Lena D Sialino, Almar A L Kok, Marjolein Visser, W M Monique Verschuren, H Susan J Picavet, Sandra H van Oostrom

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dementia prevalence in older women is higher than that in men. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is a female disadvantage in cognitive functioning at adult age and/or whether a female disadvantage develops with age.

METHODS: Data of 5,135 women and 4,756 men from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and the Doetinchem Cohort Study (DCS) were used. In the LASA, memory, processing speed, fluid intelligence, and global cognitive function were measured every 3-4 years since 1992 in persons aged 55+ years for up to 23 years. In the DCS, memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and global cognitive function were measured every 5 years since 1995 in persons aged 45+ years for up to 20 years. Sex differences in cognitive aging were analyzed using linear mixed models and also examined by the 10-year birth cohort or level of education.

RESULTS: Women had a better memory, processing speed, flexibility, and, in the DCS only, global cognitive function than men (p's < 0.01). However, women showed up to 10% faster decline in these cognitive domains, except for flexibility, where women showed 9% slower decline. In the LASA, women scored poorer on fluid intelligence (p < 0.01), but their decline was 10% slower than that in men. Female advantage was larger in later born cohorts; adjustment for the educational level increased the female advantage.

CONCLUSION: Women have better memory and processing speed than men at middle age. This female advantage becomes smaller with aging and has increased in more recent birth cohorts.

Original language	English
Number of pages	11
Journal	Gerontology
Early online date	4 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000520318
Publication status	Published - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding

Funders	Funder number
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport, Directorate of Long-Term Care	2,013–2,014
Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development
European Commission
ZonMw	849200005
ZonMw
Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	480-10-014
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

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10.1159/000520318

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Persistent link

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam
Huisman, M. (Creator), van Tilburg, T. (Creator), Broese Van Groenou, M. (Creator), Suanet, B. (Creator), Visser, M. (Creator), Kok, A. A. L. (Creator), Hoogendijk, E. O. (Creator), Deeg, D. (Creator), Schaap, L. (Creator), Beekman, A. F. T. (Creator) & van Schoor, N. M. (Creator), Amsterdam UMC, 1992
http://www.lasa-vu.nl
Dataset / Software: Dataset

Cite this

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title = "Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning with Aging in the Netherlands",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Dementia prevalence in older women is higher than that in men. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is a female disadvantage in cognitive functioning at adult age and/or whether a female disadvantage develops with age.METHODS: Data of 5,135 women and 4,756 men from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and the Doetinchem Cohort Study (DCS) were used. In the LASA, memory, processing speed, fluid intelligence, and global cognitive function were measured every 3-4 years since 1992 in persons aged 55+ years for up to 23 years. In the DCS, memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and global cognitive function were measured every 5 years since 1995 in persons aged 45+ years for up to 20 years. Sex differences in cognitive aging were analyzed using linear mixed models and also examined by the 10-year birth cohort or level of education.RESULTS: Women had a better memory, processing speed, flexibility, and, in the DCS only, global cognitive function than men (p's < 0.01). However, women showed up to 10% faster decline in these cognitive domains, except for flexibility, where women showed 9% slower decline. In the LASA, women scored poorer on fluid intelligence (p < 0.01), but their decline was 10% slower than that in men. Female advantage was larger in later born cohorts; adjustment for the educational level increased the female advantage.CONCLUSION: Women have better memory and processing speed than men at middle age. This female advantage becomes smaller with aging and has increased in more recent birth cohorts.",

author = "Nooyens, {Astrid C J} and Wijnhoven, {Hanneke A H} and Schaap, {Laura S} and Sialino, {Lena D} and Kok, {Almar A L} and Marjolein Visser and Verschuren, {W M Monique} and Picavet, {H Susan J} and {van Oostrom}, {Sandra H}",

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doi = "10.1159/000520318",

language = "English",

journal = "Gerontology",

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AU - Nooyens, Astrid C J

AU - Wijnhoven, Hanneke A H

AU - Schaap, Laura S

AU - Sialino, Lena D

AU - Kok, Almar A L

AU - Visser, Marjolein

AU - Verschuren, W M Monique

AU - Picavet, H Susan J

AU - van Oostrom, Sandra H

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Dementia prevalence in older women is higher than that in men. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is a female disadvantage in cognitive functioning at adult age and/or whether a female disadvantage develops with age.METHODS: Data of 5,135 women and 4,756 men from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and the Doetinchem Cohort Study (DCS) were used. In the LASA, memory, processing speed, fluid intelligence, and global cognitive function were measured every 3-4 years since 1992 in persons aged 55+ years for up to 23 years. In the DCS, memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and global cognitive function were measured every 5 years since 1995 in persons aged 45+ years for up to 20 years. Sex differences in cognitive aging were analyzed using linear mixed models and also examined by the 10-year birth cohort or level of education.RESULTS: Women had a better memory, processing speed, flexibility, and, in the DCS only, global cognitive function than men (p's < 0.01). However, women showed up to 10% faster decline in these cognitive domains, except for flexibility, where women showed 9% slower decline. In the LASA, women scored poorer on fluid intelligence (p < 0.01), but their decline was 10% slower than that in men. Female advantage was larger in later born cohorts; adjustment for the educational level increased the female advantage.CONCLUSION: Women have better memory and processing speed than men at middle age. This female advantage becomes smaller with aging and has increased in more recent birth cohorts.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Dementia prevalence in older women is higher than that in men. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is a female disadvantage in cognitive functioning at adult age and/or whether a female disadvantage develops with age.METHODS: Data of 5,135 women and 4,756 men from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and the Doetinchem Cohort Study (DCS) were used. In the LASA, memory, processing speed, fluid intelligence, and global cognitive function were measured every 3-4 years since 1992 in persons aged 55+ years for up to 23 years. In the DCS, memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and global cognitive function were measured every 5 years since 1995 in persons aged 45+ years for up to 20 years. Sex differences in cognitive aging were analyzed using linear mixed models and also examined by the 10-year birth cohort or level of education.RESULTS: Women had a better memory, processing speed, flexibility, and, in the DCS only, global cognitive function than men (p's < 0.01). However, women showed up to 10% faster decline in these cognitive domains, except for flexibility, where women showed 9% slower decline. In the LASA, women scored poorer on fluid intelligence (p < 0.01), but their decline was 10% slower than that in men. Female advantage was larger in later born cohorts; adjustment for the educational level increased the female advantage.CONCLUSION: Women have better memory and processing speed than men at middle age. This female advantage becomes smaller with aging and has increased in more recent birth cohorts.

U2 - 10.1159/000520318

DO - 10.1159/000520318

M3 - Article

C2 - 34983049

SN - 0304-324X

JO - Gerontology

JF - Gerontology

ER -

Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning with Aging in the Netherlands

Abstract

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Funding

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Datasets

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

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