Influence of cognitive functioning on functional status in an older population: 3- and 6-year follow-up of the Maastricht Aging Study.
BACKGROUND
To date, it remains unclear to what extent cognitive competence is related to a change in general functional status in older adults.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate both the cross-sectional and the longitudinal relation between cognitive functioning and functional status.


METHODS
Sensorimotor speed, memory, and executive functioning were assessed in a large population of healthy adults aged 60 years and older (n = 485) who participated in the Maastricht Aging Study. Data from the baseline (1993-1995), three-year follow-up, and six-year follow-up were used. Functional status was measured using the SF-36, which was coded into a physical and a mental component summary measure.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, sex, and educational level, a high level of cognitive functioning appeared to be associated with better functional status in the cross-sectional analysis. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated, that cognitive functioning was not a predictor of functional status three or six years later.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus while cognitive functioning is useful clinically for predicting the short-term functional status of an older person, it is not useful for predicting that person's long-term (>3 years) functional status and thus the period of validity of the results of these tests in answering such questions is limited.
van Hooren
Susan A H
SA
School of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands. susan.vanhooren@ou.nl
van Boxtel
Martin P J
MP
Valentijn
Susanne A M
SA
Bosma
Hans
H
Ponds
Rudolf W H M
RW
Jolles
Jelle
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis