title: Gender-Specific Incidence and Predictors of Cognitive Impairment among Older Koreans: Findings from a 6-Year Prospective Cohort Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated gender-specific incidence and predictors of cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults in South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2006 and 2012 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), 925 females and 834 males aged 65 and over without cognitive impairment at 2006 were analyzed separately. Cognitive impairment was measured based on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE) normative score. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) was conducted to examine the predictors of cognitive impairment at 6-year follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of cognitive impairment at 2012 was significantly higher for women (30.5%) than men (26.1%). GEE result showed that depression was significantly associated with cognitive impairment for both genders (female: OR=2.26, 95% CI=1.63-3.12; male: OR=3.26, 95% CI=2.19-4.83). Having IADL limitations (OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.03-1.28), high blood pressure (OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.27-2.34), poor hearing (OR=1.94, 95% CI=1.29-2.92), regular exercise (OR=0.67, 95% CI=0.45-0.99), and normal weight (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.03-1.86) were significant predictors of cognitive impairment only among women. In contrast, age (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.07) and ADL limitations (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.21-1.82) were significant predictors of cognitive impairment at follow-up only among men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study show gender-specific predictors of cognitive impairment among older Koreans. This study can provide information for clinicians and policy makers to develop different intervention strategies considering gender differences in the progress of cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Dementia, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Sciences & Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Cognition; Elderly; Longitudinal studies; Risk factors; Sex differences