LD ME caused tissue damage and cognitive impairment in female diabetic animals. Brain sections from female groups were also analyzed with HE and LFB staining as in male animals. Compared to the control animals, diabetic female rats had significantly higher HE score (A), lower LFB score (B), increased PVS index (C), and lower MBP intensity (D) in multiple brain areas as well. Interestingly, cognitive function was similar at baseline between control and diabetes female groups, but LD ME caused deficits at week 6 only in diabetic female animals (E, interaction p=0.0215) while sensorimotor function was similar at both time points (F). Ctrl: control, DM: diabetes, C-F: control female, D-F: diabetes female, cc: corpus callosum, ec: external capsule.