Gender Differences in Memory Performance Among Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Population-based Study from Rural Haryana, India

Background Cognitive impairment (CI) is a major public health concern among the geriatric population and affects around 50 million people worldwide. The prevalence of CI ranges from 5.1% to 41%, and it is considered an initial stage for conditions like acute dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. However, diagnosing CI is controversial due to the absence of clear clinical criteria, leading to memory complaints and retained cognitive abilities being used as indicators. While several studies have examined gender differences in cognition and memory, most of these studies have focused on developed countries, leaving a gap in knowledge for other populations. Methodology 407 participants (115 CI individuals and 292 no-CI individuals) in the age range of 36–85 years were recruited in this study. Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) was implemented for cognitive assessment, and the Post Graduate Institute Memory Scale (PGIMS) was administered for memory assessment. Data generated in the present study have been analyzed in IBM SPSS version 22. Results CI individuals have a significantly higher average age. Females were more cognitively impaired in the studied population. Further, a significantly low PGIMS score among CI individuals has been observed in the present study. Moreover, illiteracy and unemployment were significantly higher, and the PGIMS score was significantly lower among females, both in the case and control groups independently. Most importantly, a significant difference of 9 out of 10 memory domains between males and females in the control category reduced to 5 out of 10 domains in the CI category. Conclusion The present study differentiates gender differences among the CI individuals. Females were more impaired in terms of CI and memory performance. Further, the present study would be clinically beneficial with gender-specific diagnosis and pharmaceutical implications.