Does gender influence cognitive outcome after traumatic brain injury?
The aim of this study was to determine whether males and females differ in post-acute cognitive outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Performances of 83 men and 75 women with mild to severe TBI were compared on measures of cognitive functions typically impacted by TBI (i.e., processing speed, executive functioning, and memory). Participants completed selected subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Among the participants with mild TBI, women scored significantly higher than men on a test of visual memory. There were no other significant gender differences in cognitive outcomes. These findings overall suggest that cognitive outcome after TBI does not differ according to gender, with the possible exception of memory functioning. Further research is needed to replicate this finding and determine which moderating variables may impact on the relationship between gender and cognitive outcome after TBI.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. dwm2003@med.cornell.edu
Dana W
DW
Moore
Teresa A
TA
Ashman
Joshua B
JB
Cantor
Ren Jolie
RJ
Krinick
Lisa A
LA
Spielman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D012718:Set, Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult