Gender Differences in Pattern Reversal Evoked Potentials in Normal Elderly

Pattern reversal evoked potentials (PREPs) were recorded in 51 normal elderly subjects (27 males. 24 females). Elderly females had shorter P100 and N150 latencies, greater P100-N150 amplitudes, and higher noise power than elderly males. The N150 latency differences were significant even when P100 latency effects were partialled out statistically. Gender differences in P100-N150 amplitude Mere independent of both noise power and PREP latency measures. These results provide evidence that, in the elderly, 1) gender differences in PREP amplitude reflect factors specific to CNS processing of visual stimuli rather than global CNS anatomic or physiological factors, 2) gender differences in P100 latency reported in younger groups are also present in the elderly, and 3) there are separable factors underlying gender differences in N150 and P100 latencies in the elderly.