scholarly journals Status and Factors of Cognitive Function Among Older Adults in Urban China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Shen ◽  
Xiaochen Tang ◽  
Chunbo Li ◽  
Zhenying Qian ◽  
Jijun Wang ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to examine the current status and influencing mechanisms of different demographic factors associated with cognitive function in urban Chinese older adults. A total of 644 older adults from 14 communities in urban China (e.g., Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuxi) were investigated by using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. The results indicated that the overall cognitive function of older adults in urban China was normal. We found an aging effect on cognitive level, and cognitive function declined more rapidly after age 80. Older age, unmarried status, and lower occupational cognitive requirements increased the likelihood of cognitive risk. Higher educational levels and active engagement in exercise may contribute to cognitive reserve and have a protective effect on cognitive decline in late life. Further study is needed to develop appropriate interventions to improve the mental health of older people.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Feng ◽  
Tze-Pin Ng ◽  
Yanling He ◽  
Chunbo Li ◽  
Ee-Heok Kua ◽  
...  

Objective. We aimed to examine the independent contributions of physical health and cognitive function to disability among Chinese older adults living in two Asian metropolises and explore the potential influences of environment.Design and Participants. Cross-sectional analysis based on data from two population-based studies: the Shanghai Survey of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia (n=4639) and the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study (n=2397). Disability was defined as needing help in at least one activity of daily living.Results. The prevalence of functional disability was higher in Shanghai sample (5%) than that in Singapore sample (1.8%). Number of chronic diseases, self-rated health status, cognitive function (measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination), and environment (Singapore versus Shanghai) significantly contributed to functional disability independent of each other. The adjusted Odds Ratio was 1.35 (95%CI 1.22–1.50), 2.85 (95% CI 2.36–3.43), 0.89 (95% CI 0.85–0.94), and 0.68 (95% CI 0.48–0.96), respectively. The strength of associations between health variables and disability appeared to be influenced by environment.Conclusion. Physical health and cognitive function independently contributed to functional disability. The associations are modulated by environmental factors.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Nari ◽  
Bich Na Jang ◽  
Hin Moi Youn ◽  
Wonjeong Jeong ◽  
Sung-In Jang ◽  
...  

AbstractFrailty is considered a multidimensional geriatric syndrome, manifested by the accumulation of age-associated deficits. The consequences of frailty transitions are still understudied. This study evaluated the influence of frailty transitions on cognitive function in the older adult population. We used data derived from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) (2008–2018) on older adults aged ≥ 65 years. Frailty was assessed using a validated Korean frailty measure known as the frailty instrument (FI), and cognitive function was measured using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Transitions in frailty and their relationship with cognitive function were investigated using lagged generalized estimating equations (GEE), t-tests, and ANOVA. Respondents who experienced frailty transitions (those with ameliorating frailty), those who developed frailty, and whose frailty remained constant, were more likely to have a lower cognitive function than those who were consistently non-frail. Older age, activities of daily living (ADL) disability, and instrumental ADL disability were more negatively associated with declining cognitive function, especially in the “frail → frail” group. Changes in all individual components of the frailty instrument were significantly associated with impaired cognitive function. The results suggest an association between frailty transitions and cognitive impairment. Over a 2-year span, the remaining frail individuals had the highest rate of cognitive decline in men, while the change from non-frail to frail state in women was significantly associated with the lowest cognitive function values. We recommend early interventions and prevention strategies in older adults to help ameliorate or slow down both frailty and cognitive function decline.


Author(s):  
Zhebin Wang ◽  
Yuanjie Pang ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Zheng Xie ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S936-S937
Author(s):  
Stephanie M Bergren ◽  
Gabriella Dong

Abstract Research has found relationships between experiencing stressful events and lower cognitive function in late life. However, there is little research about the cumulative experiences of significant historical events and cognitive function. Historical events may be unique compared to other life events due to their potential distal relationship to the individual. This study aims to examine the relationship between experiencing significant historical events and cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Data were drawn from the PINE Study, a cohort study of 3,126 US Chinese older adults collected from 2017-2019. Participants were asked if they experienced the Japanese invasion, famine, Great Leap Forward, Vietnam War, Cultural Revolution, and the Tian’anmen Square Protests. A composite score of 0-6 was calculated to count the number experienced. Cognitive function was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and Chinese MMSE. Linear and quantile regression were performed. Among the participants, 1908 (61.04%) were female with mean age of 75.33 (SD=8.22) years. The average number of historical events experienced was 2.36 (SD=1.44). After adjusting for covariates, every one additional historical event experience was associated with better global cognition (b=0.26, SE=0.009, p&lt;.01), episodic memory (b = 0.045, SE=0.012, p&lt;.001), and processing speed (b=0.383, SE=0.135, p&lt;.01). Number of historical events was not significantly associated with working memory or C-MMSE. The positive relationship between historical events and some cognitive domains suggests a potential resilience effect after experiencing historical events. Future research should examine whether participants found events stressful and whether there are differential relationships to cognitive function.


Author(s):  
Xiaohang Zhao ◽  
Lei Jin ◽  
Skylar Biyang Sun

This study investigated the bidirectional association between physical and cognitive function in later life and examined the mechanisms underlying the interrelationship. We employed cross-lagged panel models to analyze a sample of 4232 unique participants aged 65 years and older from three waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Physical activity and social participation were tested as potential mediators between physical and cognitive function. Our findings revealed a reciprocal relationship between physical and cognitive function and a reciprocal relationship between physical and cognitive decline. Moreover, physical activity was confirmed to mediate the bidirectional association between physical and cognitive function, whereas social participation did not seem to be a mediator. A vicious cycle linking physical and cognitive decline may exist in Chinese older adults. However, leading a physically active lifestyle could be an effective intervention to slow physical and cognitive aging, thereby toning down the vicious cycle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S814-S814
Author(s):  
XinQi Dong ◽  
Melissa Simon

Abstract The increasing diversity in the aging population warrants systematic investigations regarding ethnic differences related to cognitive aging and ethnicity-unique risk factors. However, due to the great paucity of population-based longitudinal data on cognitive aging in racial/ethnic minority populations, our knowledge in this area remain limited. The purpose of this symposium is, therefore, to examine various psychological, socio-cultural, and physical factors associated with cognitive aging among U.S. Chinese older adults, representing one of the biggest and fastest growing older minority populations nationally. Using longitudinal data from a population-based prospective cohort study, namely The Population Study of ChINese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) with a sample size of 3,157, this symposium presents findings from five research projects. Session 1 investigates the relationship between psychological well-being and change of cognitive function over four years. Session 2 and 3 examine the relationships between two socio-cultural factors and cognitive function. Specifically, session 2 investigates the associations between immigration-related factors and the incidence of cognitive impairment. Session 3 explores the relationship between cognitive function and Tai-Chi practice. Session 4 and 5 examine the relationships between two physical health indicators and cognitive aging. Specifically, session 4 examines the relationship between physical function and change of cognitive function over two years. Session 5 explores the association between body mass index and cognitive function decline over two years. Taken together, this symposium aims to further our knowledge of cognitive aging among ethnically/culturally diverse populations. The research findings will identify unique factors related to cognitive aging in older minority populations.


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