title: The perception of sexuality in older adults and its relationship with cognitive functioning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigating whether cognitive functioning is associated with the perception of one's sexuality in old age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis, using observation cycle 2005/2006 of the population-based prospective cohort of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Municipal registries in three Dutch regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,908 older adults (mean [standard deviation] age: 71 [8.87] years; 54% women).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexuality and intimacy were assessed using four questions. Four cognitive domains were assessed: general cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Examination), memory performance (Auditory Verbal Learning Test), processing speed (Coding Task), and fluid intelligence (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices). Multinomial regression analysis was used, with sexuality as outcome. The interaction effect between gender and sexuality was also tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower fluid intelligence was associated with perceiving sexuality as unimportant; lower general cognitive functioning was associated with perceiving sexuality as unimportant; and lower immediate memory recall was associated with evaluating sexual life as unpleasant. Associations were also found between lower fluid intelligence, processing speed, and general cognitive functioning, and agreeing with sexuality no longer being important. Lower processing speed, general cognitive functioning, and delayed memory recall were associated with disagreeing with a remaining need for intimacy when getting older. Finally, the association between fluid intelligence and perceiving sexuality as important, and the association between immediate memory recall score and evaluating sexual life as pleasant, was only significant in women. The association between lower general cognitive functioning and perceiving sexuality as unimportant seemed stronger in women compared with men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher cognitive functioning was associated with the way in which older people perceive their current sexuality.
authors.affiliation: GGZ Altrecht, Institute for Clinical and Outpatient Mental Health Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.hartmans@altrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Carien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartmans
authors.affiliation: GGZ InGEEST, Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hannie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Comijs
authors.affiliation: EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jonker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cognitive functioning; dementia and aging; sexuality