title: Religious affiliation and the risk of dementia in Taiwanese elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Religious affiliations vary across ethnic groups because of different cultural backgrounds. Some studies have explored the association between religious affiliation and cognitive decline. Only a small portion of patients with cognitive decline progress to dementia. However, the association between religious affiliation and dementia risk remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, we recruited 280 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 138 with vascular dementia (VaD) (both aged ≥60 years) from three teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan between 2007 and 2010. Age-matched healthy controls (n=466) were recruited from an elderly health checkup program and from volunteers visiting the hospital during the same period. Three religious affiliations-Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity-were evaluated. The study also assessed the effect of important factors such as gender or leisure activities on the association of religious affiliation with dementia risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with Christianity affiliation showed decreased AD risk (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.25-0.87) compared with those without any religious affiliation. Moreover, this effect was stronger in women (AOR=0.38, 95% CI=0.15-0.92) and in participants who exercised regularly (>3 times/week; AOR=0.33, 95% CI=0.14-0.77). No significant association was observed among participants with Taoism and Buddhism affiliations. Affiliation to none of the religions was associated with VaD risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, Chinese participants having Christianity affiliation showed decreased AD risk. Moreover, the protective effect was more evident in women and in participants who exercised regularly.
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Kun-Pei
authors: KP
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Chou
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Jen-Hau
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-Dan
authors: CD
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Sheng-Ying
authors: SY
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ta-Fu
authors: TF
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Neurology, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Li-Li
authors: LL
authors: Wen
authors: School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Center of Neurological Medicine, Cardinal Tien's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ping-Keung
authors: PK
authors: Yip
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cardinal Tien's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Min
authors: YM
authors: Chu
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, Environment and Human Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center for Genes, Environment and Human Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: karenchen@ntu.edu.tw.
authors: Yen-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012067:Religion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: AD; APOE e4; Leisure activity; Religious affiliation; VaD