Association between indoor air pollution and cognitive function among nationally representative sample of middle‐aged and older adults in India—A multilevel modelling approach

BackgroundA growing body of research suggests exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution may negatively affect cognitive functioning in older adults, but less is known about the link between indoor sources of air pollution and cognitive functioning. We examine the association between exposure to indoor air pollution and cognitive function among older adults in Mexico, a developing country where combustion of biomass for domestic energy remains common.MethodData come from the 2012 Wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. The analytic sample consists of 13 023 Mexican adults over age 50. Indoor air pollution is assessed by the reported use of wood or coal as the household’s primary cooking fuel. Cognitive function is measured with assessments of verbal learning, verbal recall, attention, orientation and verbal fluency. Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine cross-sectional differences in cognitive function according to indoor air pollution exposure while accounting for demographic, household, health and economic characteristics.ResultsApproximately 16% of the sample reported using wood or coal as their primary cooking fuel, but this was far more common among those residing in the most rural areas (53%). Exposure to indoor air pollution was associated with poorer cognitive performance across all assessments, with the exception of verbal recall, even in fully adjusted models.ConclusionsIndoor air pollution may be an important factor for the cognitive health of older Mexican adults. Public health efforts should continue to develop interventions to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution in rural Mexico.

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Neighborhood age structure and cognitive function in a nationally-representative sample of older adults in the U.S.

Social Science & Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.12.005 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 174 ◽

pp. 149-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Esther M. Friedman ◽

Regina A. Shih ◽

Mary E. Slaughter ◽

Margaret M. Weden ◽

Kathleen A. Cagney

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Age Structure ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The U.S

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Components of air pollution and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults in Los Angeles

NeuroToxicology ◽

10.1016/j.neuro.2013.09.004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

Nicole M. Gatto ◽

Victor W. Henderson ◽

Howard N. Hodis ◽

Jan A. St. John ◽

Fred Lurmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Middle Aged

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The onset of falls reduces perceived autonomy among middle aged and older adults. Results from a longitudinal nationally representative sample

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2020.104115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 90 ◽

pp. 104115

Author(s):

André Hajek ◽

Hans-Helmut König

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Nationally Representative

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Abstract P224: Does Cognitive Function And C-reactive Protein Produce A Combined Effect On All-cause Mortality Risk? An Analysis Of Older Adults In The 1999-2002 NHANES

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.143.suppl_1.p224 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Madeline B Zipperer ◽

James R Churilla ◽

Michael R Richardson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Combined Effects ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

High Cognitive Function ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Nationally Representative

Introduction: There is limited evidence examining the combined effects of cognitive function and C-reactive protein (CRP) on mortality risk using a large nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that cognitive function and CRP produce a combined effect in predicting all-cause mortality risk. Objective: Examine the combined effects of cognitive function and CRP in predicting all-cause mortality in a large nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods: The study sample (n=2,111) included older adults (≥ 60 years of age) who participated in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A four-level variable was created based on CRP concentration and cognitive function (high cognitive function and low to average CRP; high cognitive function and high CRP; low cognitive function and low to average CRP; low cognitive function and high CRP). Results: Compared to a referent group with low to average CRP and high cognitive function, analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in risk of all-cause mortality in adults with high CRP and low cognitive function (Hazards Ratio [HR] 1.97; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.52-2.55, p<0.0001) and in adults with low to average CRP and low cognitive function (HR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.44-2.15, p<0.0001). Similar relationships were not revealed in adults with high cognitive function, regardless of CRP concentration. Conclusions: In a large nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults, low cognitive function was associated with increased all-cause mortality risk independent of CRP concentration.

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Associations between social and intellectual activities with cognitive trajectories in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a nationally representative cohort study

Alzheimer s Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13195-020-00691-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Haibin Li ◽

Changwei Li ◽

Anxin Wang ◽

Yanling Qi ◽

Wei Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cognitive Assessments ◽

Visuospatial Skills ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Intellectual Activities

Abstract Background Associations between the frequency of social and intellectual activities and cognitive trajectories are understudied in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. We aimed to examine this association in a nationally representative longitudinal study. Methods The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) is a nationally representative sample of Chinese middle-aged and older participants. The frequency of social and intellectual activities was measured at baseline. Interview-based cognitive assessments of orientation and attention, episodic memory, and visuospatial skills and the calculation of combined global scores were assessed every 2 years from 2011 to 2016. Cognitive aging trajectories over time were analyzed using group-based trajectory modeling, and the associations of the trajectory memberships with social and intellectual activities were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results Among 8204 participants aged 50–75 years at baseline, trajectory analysis identified three longitudinal patterns of cognitive function based on the global cognitive scores: “persistently low trajectory” (n = 1550, 18.9%), “persistently moderate trajectory” (n = 3194, 38.9%), and “persistently high trajectory” (n = 3460, 42.2%). After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, lifestyles, geriatric symptoms, and health conditions, more frequent intellectual activities (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38–0.77) and social activities (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.95) were both associated with a lower likelihood of being in the “persistently low trajectory” for global cognitive function. Conclusions These findings suggested that more frequent social and intellectual activities were associated with more favorable cognitive aging trajectories.

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