THE IMPACT OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL-FACTORSAND CEREBROVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AS POTENTIAL PREDICTORS OF THE MATTIS DEMENTIA RATING-SCALE

Background. Age and education have been found to affect the Mattis Dem entia Rating Scale (MDRS) score of elderly normals, but there have bee n no studies assessing the influence of environmental and behavioral f actors on this scale. Their role as potential predictors of the MDRS t otal score was investigated. Methods. The MDRS was administered to 1,9 27 normal elderly subjects in the setting of a stroke prevention study . Results were correlated with 16 sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral factors, and cerebrovascular risk factors. Study statistic s resulted from multiple logistic regression analysis. Results. Result s indicated that higher age and arterial hypertension were associated with poorer cognitive performance, while better education and moderate general life stress exerted a positive effect on the participants' te st results. Conclusions. Thus, besides the well-established factors of age and educational level, moderate general life stress and hypertens ion were identified as relevant predictors in determining the MDRS tes t performance of elderly normals.