title: Co-morbid and socio-demographic factors associated with cognitive performance in an elderly community dwelling Irish population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies suggest an association between health factors and dementia. The impact of these factors on the cognitive performance of the elderly population is unclear. Possible correlates of poor cognitive performance in a community dwelling elderly Irish population were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were from a sample of individuals over 65 years agreeable to interview using the Geriatric Mental State (GMS)-Automated Geriatric Examination for Computed Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT) package conducted at the subject's home. Associations between patient profiles and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score were investigated in a multivariate model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 793 subjects, 528 (66.6%) female with mean (s.d.) age 74.8 (6.7) yrs. Mean MMSE score was 26.5 (3.3). 169 (21.3%) were current smokers, 198 (25%) ex-smokers. Two hundred and twenty-four (28.3%) had a history of hypertension, 85 (10.7%) case level anxiety or depression, 51 (6.4%) stroke, ten0 (1.3%) epilepsy, nine (1.1%) Parkinson's disease and 29 (3.7%) dementia. Two hundred and fifty-five (32.2%) subjects were on psychotropic medications. Factors associated with MMSE score included age (p < or = 0.0001), diagnosis of dementia (p < or = 0.0001), socioeconomic group (p < or = 0.0001), education (p < or = 0.0001), previous stroke (p = 0.0013) and use of psychotropic medication (p = 0.03). Case level anxiety or depression (p = 0.99), Parkinson's disease (p = 0.52), epilepsy (p = 0.26), smoking status (p = 0.99) and hypertension (p = 0.34) were not found to be associated with cognitive performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors associated with cognitive performance included age, socioeconomic group, education, previous stroke and use of psychotropic medication. These factors should be adjusted for in studies assessing cognition in this population. Stroke prevention strategies and avoidance of psychotropic medication may benefit cognitive performance.
authors.affiliation: Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin D8, Ireland. achin@stjames.ie
authors.forename: Ai-Vyrn
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Aisling
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denihan
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: Conal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs