The sex’s role on the neurocognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Abstract This study aimed to elucidate the role of sex in neurocognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Ninety-four idiopathic PD and 167 healthy elderly as normal controls (NCs) were recruited and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. The sex difference were found in NCs but not in PD. In male, PD patients had worse performance on the Digit symbol substitution (DSS) (p < 0.001) and the Symbol Searching (SS) (p < 0.001) than NCs. In female, PD patients had the worse score on the category score of the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (p < 0.001), the SS (p < 0.001), and the pentagon copying (p < 0.001) than NCs. After controlling age and years of education, Hoehn and Yahr Stage can predict the performance of the Color Trail Test part A (βA = 0.241, pA = 0.036), the Stroop Word-Color Test (β = -0.245, p = 0.036), and the DSS (β = -0.258, p = 0.035) in male PD patients. Sex differences were found in NCs but not in PD. The mental flexibility and visuospatial function are susceptible to female in the PD course. Male PD patients’ working memory and processing speed can be predicted by the disease severity.