Does 8-foot walk time predict cognitive decline in older Mexicans Americans?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between 8-foot time walk and change in cognitive function over time in older Mexican Americans.


METHODS
Data used are from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (1993-2001).


METHODS
Five southwestern states: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California.


METHODS
Two thousand seventy noninstitutionalized Mexican-American men and women aged 65 and older who had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 21 or greater at baseline.


METHODS
Sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, marital status), MMSE score, 8-foot walk time, body mass index, medical conditions (stroke, heart attack, diabetes mellitus, depression, and hypertension), and near and distant visual impairment.


RESULTS
Using general linear mixed models, it was found that subjects with the slowest 8-foot walk time had a significantly greater rate of cognitive decline over 7 years than subjects with the fastest 8-foot walk time. There was a significant 8-foot walk time-by-time interaction with MMSE scores. Subjects in the lowest 8-foot walk time quartile had a greater cognitive decline over 7 years (estimate=-0.32, SE=0.08; P<.001) than those in the highest quartile. This association remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Slow 8-foot walk time in older Mexican-American adults without cognitive impairment at baseline was an independent predictor of MMSE score decline over a 7-year period. Slow 8-foot walk time may be an early marker for older adults in a predementia state who may benefit from early-intervention programs to prevent or slow cognitive decline.
Alfaro-Acha
Ana
A
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Hospital Virgen del Valle, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo, Toledo, Spain.
Al Snih
Soham
S
Raji
Mukaila A
MA
Markides
Kyriakos S
KS
Ottenbacher
Kenneth J
KJ
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*