Sex-Specific Neurocognitive Impairment

Sharlet A Anderson; Maria A Rossetti

doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2023.01.003

Sex-Specific Neurocognitive Impairment

Neurol Clin. 2023 May;41(2):359-369. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2023.01.003. Epub 2023 Feb 20.

Authors

Sharlet A Anderson¹, Maria A Rossetti²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Professional Office Building 755, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Electronic address: Sharlet_A_Anderson@rush.edu.
² Department of Neurology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, PO Box 800394, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.

PMID: 37030963
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2023.01.003

Abstract

This article explores sex-specific neurocognitive impairment. It first defines relevant terms such as gender and sex. Next, it describes the nature of the problem including under-representation of women and other gender and sexual minorities in neuroscience research, including cognitive studies. A biopsychosocial framework is employed to account for structural and social determinants of health in sex/gender-specific neurocognitive impairment. Issues in assessment including the use of gender/sex-specific normative data are also discussed. Lastly, the article covers the current state of research as it relates to sex/gender-specific neurocognitive impairment across a range of medical conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and coronavirus disease-2019.

Keywords: Cognition; Gender; Intersectionality; Neurocognitive disorders; Neurofeminism; Sex.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19
Cognitive Dysfunction* / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Sex Factors*