title: Terminal decline and cognitive performance in very old age: does cause of death matter?
abstract: Cross-sectional differences and longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning in relation to mortality across a 7-year follow-up period, with 3 times of measurement, were examined in a population-based sample of very old adults. The authors also sought to determine whether cause of death (cerebro/cardiovascular disease [CVD]; non-CVD) modified the magnitude of mortality-related cognitive deficits. Cognitive performance was indexed by tests of general cognitive ability, episodic memory, primary memory, verbal fluency, and visuospatial ability. Results indicated cross-sectional differences on all domains of functioning, with persons who would die within 3 years after baseline testing performing more poorly. Longitudinally, greater decrements were observed on all domains for persons who would die after the first follow-up period, as compared with survivors. Cause of death failed to modify the magnitude of the cross-sectional and longitudinal deficits. The pattern of results point to the general nature of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620, USA. bsmall@luna.cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fratiglioni
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Strauss
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000401:mortality; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality