scholarly journals Longitudinal Associations of Stroke With Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults in the United States: A Population-Based Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Wu ◽  
Li Fan ◽  
Songqing Ke ◽  
Yangting He ◽  
Ke Zhang ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the longitudinal associations of stroke with cognitive impairment in older US adults.Method: The data used in this longitudinal analysis were extracted from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) from 2011 to 2019. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the longitudinal association of stroke with cognitive impairment. The multivariable model was adjusted by demographic, physical, and mental characteristics, and the complex survey design of NHATS was taken into consideration.Results: A total of 7,052 participants with complete data were included. At the baseline, the weighted proportion of cognitive impairment was 19.37% (95% CI, 17.92–20.81%), and the weighted proportion of the history of stroke was 9.81% (95% CI, 8.90–10.72%). In univariate analysis, baseline stroke history was significantly associated with cognitive impairment in the future (hazard ratio, 1.746; 95% CI, 1.461–2.088), and the baseline cognitive impairment was significantly associated with future report of stroke (hazard ratio, 1.436; 95% CI, 1.088–1.896). In multivariable model, stroke was also significantly associated with cognitive impairment (hazard ratio, 1.241; 95% CI, 1.011–1.522); however, the reverse association was not significant (hazard ratio, 1.068; 95% CI, 0.788–1.447). After the data from proxy respondents were excluded, in the sensitive analyses, the results remained unchanged.Conclusion: Older adults in the United States who suffered strokes are more likely to develop cognitive impairment as a result in the future than those who have not had strokes. However, the reverse association did not hold. Furthermore, the study suggests that it is necessary to screen and take early intervention for cognitive impairment in stroke survivors and prevent the incidence of stroke by modifying risk factors in the general population with rapidly growing older US adults.

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamiluddin J. Qazi ◽  
James H. Wilson ◽  
Spencer C. Payne ◽  
Jose L. Mattos

Objectives To characterize the association between quantitative olfactory dysfunction (OD) and gustatory dysfunction and depression in older adults. Methods The 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were used to investigate the relationship between smell and taste dysfunction and depression. Adults aged 65 years and older were included in the analysis. For smell status, subjects were divided into hyposmia, anosmia, and OD (hyposmia + anosmia) using the Pocket Smell Test. For taste status, subjects were evaluated using quinine, 1M NaCl, and 0.32M NaCl solutions. Indicator variables were made for subjects with both smell and taste dysfunction to determine whether a combination of symptoms could predict depression. Depression status was evaluated by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire using accepted cutoff values. Relevant demographic, socioeconomic, and comorbid factors were included in multivariate logistic regression models, which accounted for the complex survey design of NHANES. Results A total of 931 subjects aged 65 years or older were included in the weighted analysis. Anosmia significantly predicted depressive symptoms in multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.484, P = .032) but not univariate. In univariate analysis, hyposmia + anosmia (OR = 2.193, P = .006) and hyposmia (OR = 2.512, P < .001) significantly predicted depression. Significance was lost in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Smell dysfunction is an independent predictor of depressive symptoms in a representative sample of older adults in the United States after adjusting for relevant demographic factors and comorbidities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 479-479
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Torres

Abstract Approximately one third of older adults in the United States (US) and 13% of older adults in Mexico live alone. In both countries, the prevalence of living alone is higher for women and increases with advanced age; in the US, an estimated 4.3 million older adults continue to live alone with cognitive impairment or dementia. We will present research from the US and Mexico on the receipt of long-term services and supports and unmet needs for care among older adults living alone, including with cognitive impairment, as well as factors that may modify these outcomes. For the US, we will describe recent findings about the health, health care, and caregiving outcomes of older adults living alone vs. living with others during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Scheibelhofer

This paper focuses on gendered mobilities of highly skilled researchers working abroad. It is based on an empirical qualitative study that explored the mobility aspirations of Austrian scientists who were working in the United States at the time they were interviewed. Supported by a case study, the paper demonstrates how a qualitative research strategy including graphic drawings sketched by the interviewed persons can help us gain a better understanding of the gendered importance of social relations for the future mobility aspirations of scientists working abroad.


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