Mental ability age 11 years and health status age 77 years.
OBJECTIVE
to measure the effects of childhood mental ability on health in old age.


METHODS
longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
community-based.


METHODS
survivors of the 1932 Scottish Mental Survey cohort randomly selected from the Community Health Index in North East Scotland.


METHODS
(i) presence of disease by diagnostic category; (ii) cardiovascular, respiratory, anthropomorphic, sensory and locomotor physiological variables; (iii) Barthel index of functional independence; (iv) socio-demographic and socio-economic variables as health status predictors; and (v) score on the Moray House Test in 1932.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in Moray House Test score in 1932 between those with (mean 39.7, S.D. 13.8) and without (mean 40.1, S.D. 12.1) current disease (F = 0.04, P = 0.84). Physiological health status was predicted by demi-span (F = 6.87, P< 0.001), sex (F = 3.69, P = 0.001), deprivation category (F = 1.45, P = 0.05) and the interaction between sex and deprivation category (F = 2.01, P = 0.002). Moray House Test score in 1932 correlated significantly and positively with Barthel score (r = 0.24, P < 0.001). No additional general linear models added any other significant socio-economic variable once Moray House Test Score in 1932 was entered. Moray House Test score in 1932 remained significant (beta = 0.16, P = 0.024) after Mini Mental State Examination score was entered and found to be significant (beta = 0.21, P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
socio-economic and socio-environmental factors are important determinants of some aspects of inequalities in health in old age in this cohort. Pre-morbid mental ability was an important independent predictor of late-life functional independence.
Starr
J M
JM
Centre for the Study of the Ageing Brain, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Deary
I J
IJ
Lemmon
H
H
Whalley
L J
LJ
D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012923:Social Class