[Correlates of change in cognitive function during a two-year follow-up period in a comprehensive health examination for the community-dwelling elderly for the prevention of geriatric syndromes and bed-ridden state].
OBJECTIVE
We explored correlates of change in cognitive function during a two-year follow-up period among the community-dwelling elderly in Japan, using a population-based prospective approach.


METHODS
The participants analyzed in the present study were 260 men and 222 women aged 70 to 84 years at baseline, living in an urban Japanese community. Data such as change in cognitive function during two years (calculated by subtracting baseline Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score from follow-up MMSE score: a negative value means a decrease in MMSE scores during the two-year period) as an outcome variable, age, education, hearing and vision problems, IADL deficit (measured by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology of Index of Competence), problems related to memory complaint, living alone, hemoglobin level, as explanatory variables, and the baseline MMSE score, depressive status (measured by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview), chronic conditions (hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus) as covariates, were collected during a comprehensive health examination survey for the elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
We conducted multivariate regression analysis by genders to explore correlates of change in cognitive function. The results showed that higher age (beta = -0.18), presence of hearing problem (beta = -0.21), presence of IADL deficit (beta = -0.15), and memory complaint (beta = -0.20) in men, and higher age (beta = -0.27), low education level (beta = -0.25) and lower hemoglobin level (beta = 0.16) in women, were significantly associated with change in cognitive function when adjusting for the potential confounders. These factors may be reliable predictors for cognitive decline.
Iwasa
Hajime
H
Research Team for Promotion Independence of the Elderly, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology.
Suzuki
Takao
T
Yoshida
Yuko
Y
Kwon
Jinhee
J
Yoshida
Hideyo
H
Kim
Hunkyung
H
Sugiura
Miho
M
Furuna
Taketo
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001510:Bed Rest; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies