Objective Preliminary exploration of the effects of modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT)on cognitive function and gender differences in middle-aged and young patients with depressive episodes.Methods A group of middle-aged and young patients with depressive episodes,who were admitted to Beijing Anding Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University,completed 6 rounds of MECT.The 17-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17),Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA),and repetitive battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status(RBANS)were used to score depressive symptoms,anxiety symptoms,and cognitive function at baseline,after the 3rd MECT,and after the 6th MECT,respectively.Gender differences were compared between the young and middle-aged groups.Results A total of 122 patients with depressive episodes were included,with 83 cases in the youth group and 39 cases in the middle-aged group.There was no gender difference in baseline HAMD and HAMA scores,as well as the HAMD reduction rates after MECT between the two groups(P>0.05).Repeated measures ANOVA showed that in the youth group,the time effects of RBANS total score,visual breadth factor score,and attention factor score were significant(P<0.05),and increased after treatment compared to baseline.There was no significance in gender group effects or interaction effects(P>0.05).In the middle-aged group,the time and gender interaction effect of RBANS total score and visual breadth factor score was significant(P<0.05).Female patients showed an increase in RBANS total score,visual breadth factor score,and attention factor score after the 6th MECT compared to baseline(P<0.05),while there was no significance in time effect and gender group effect(P>0.05).Conclusion Middle-aged and young depressed patients showed overall improvement in cognitive function after MECT,while there were gender differences in cognitive function changes among middle-aged patients.It is necessary to optimize the MECT program based on the patient's gender and age characteristics to reduce cognitive impairment.