Impact of Cerebrovascular Disease on Gender‐Specific Cognitive and Biomarker Profiles: Insights from the Southeast Asian BIOCIS Cohort

This study identifies distinct gender-specific cognitive, neuroimaging, and biomarker profiles in a Southeast Asian population. Females outperformed males in episodic memory and language, while males excelled in visuospatial abilities. Biomarker differences, such as elevated GFAP in females and higher p-tau 181 in males, suggest underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Neuroimaging showed males having higher WMH volumes and females with greater gray matter volumes. Among those with a CAIDE score ≥6, females demonstrated smaller declines in episodic memory, language, and visuospatial abilities. These findings highlight the need for research to develop tailored assessments and interventions addressing gender-specific cognitive and biological profiles.