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Cognitive reserve and other determinants of cognitive function in older adults: Insights from a community-based cross-sectional study

A. Kaur, A. Sonal, Tandra Ghosh, Farhad Ahamed

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2023

14 citations

Abstract

Background: India will be the home of 323 million elderly persons by 2050. This means a surge in the dependent population primarily due to age-related cognitive decline. Evidence suggests that life course factors may have a modulatory role on cognitive function. The present study explores such potential influence by investigating the effect of cognitive reserve (a latent construct using education and occupation) and physical, psychological, and social determinants on cognitive function in community dwelling elderly. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in urban areas of West Bengal (India) among elderly aged ≥60 years. Data was collected by personal interviews for socio-demographic and medical profile. Cognitive function was assessed using Bangla Adaptation of Mini-Mental State Examination (BAMSE). Educational level and occupational complexity were used as proxy indicators for calculating cognitive reserve. Results: Of the 370 elderlies interviewed (mean age = 68.9 years), cognitive function was abnormal in 13.5%. The cognitive function had a significant inverse relationship with depression symptoms, loneliness, hypertension, anemia, and basic activities of daily living. There was a significant difference in the cognitive reserve of the elderly with normal and abnormal cognitive function (mean 33.7 and 26.8, respectively). In the presence of covariates like sleep quality, depression, hypertension, and hemoglobin levels, the effect of age on…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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