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Effect of age and gender on cognitive function as assessed by p300 potentials

Authors:Mehnaaz Sameera Arifuddin, Keerthana Kota,Mohammed Abdul Hannan Hazari, Barra Ram Reddy
Int J Biol Med Res. 2013; 4(1): 2910-2914  |  PDF File

Abstract

Background: Higher mental functions decline as age advances, sometimes leading to overt dementia which compromises an individual’s day to day activities. Contrary to this, some elderly individuals show remarkable intellectual capabilities, which drive our attention to the factors apart from age that are detrimental to cognitive functions. Gender is an important factor that needs to be considered while assessing cognitive functions. Aims and objectives: The aim of the present study was to interpret the pattern of cognitive decline with respect to age and to compare the difference in cognitive potentials among males and females. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 61 apparently healthy subjects. Subjects were divided into 5 sub-groups based on age (Group I: 16-25 years, Group II: 26-35 years, Group III: 36-45 years, Group IV: 46-55 years and Group V: 56-65 years). The p300 cognitive potentials were recorded using Nicolet Viking Select (Viasys Healthcare, U.S.A.). Results: The p300 latencies exhibited increasing trend and p300 amplitudes showed decreasing trends in the consecutive age groups. However, the change between the consecutive age groups was statistically not significant. Also, in the corresponding age groups, there was no significant difference between males and females. Conclusions: The increasing trend in the p300 latencies indicate subtle decline in cognitive functions though these changes were not statistically significant. We also conclude that there is no gender disparity in the cognitive performance in the same age group.