The factors associated with cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan

• Published in: BMC geriatrics Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 116
• Main Authors: Lor, You-Chen Mary, Tsou, Meng-Ting, Tsai, Li-Wei, Tsai, Szu-Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 02.03.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Albumin; Albumins; Alzheimer's disease; Angina pectoris; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic illnesses; Cognition; Cognition disorders in old age; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Community-dwelling older adults; Comorbidity; Data collection; Dementia; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Exercise; Gender; Geriatrics; Health care; Heart attacks; Hemoglobin; High density lipoprotein; Hospitals; Humans; Hyperlipidemia; Hypertension; Independent Living; Industrialized nations; Male; Medical screening; Nurses; Older people; Physical fitness; Population; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sociodemographics; Taiwan - epidemiology; Taiwan; Asia; Community-dwelling older adults; Aged; Cognition; Hyperlipidemia; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03806-4

This research aimed to investigate the associations of anthropometric measurements, physiological parameters, chronic disease comorbidities, and social and lifestyle factors with cognitive function amongst community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This was an observational, cross-sectional study involving 4,578 participants at least 65 years old, recruited between January 2008 and December 2018 from the Annual Geriatric Health Examinations Program. Cognitive function was assessed using the short portable mental state questionnaire (SPMSQ). Multivariable logistic regression was done to analyze the factors associated with cognitive impairment. Among the 4,578 participants, 103 people (2.3%) with cognitive impairment were identified. Associated factors were age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13,1.20), male gender (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.21,0.72), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.03, 2.82), hyperlipidemia (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25, 0.89), exercise (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.34, 0.56), albumin (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15, 0.88), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97, 1.00). Whereas waistline, alcohol intake in recent six months, and hemoglobin was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment (all p > 0.05). Our findings suggested that people with older age and a history of DM had a higher risk of cognitive impairment. Male gender, a history of hyperlipidemia, exercise, a high albumin level, and a high HDL level seemed to be associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment amongst older adults.