G. Steen et al., Cognitive function and functional ability. A cross-sectional and longitudinal study at ages 85 and 95 in a non-demented population, AGING-CLIN, 13(2), 2001, pp. 68-77
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
We studied the relationship between cognitive function and ability in daily
life activities (ADL) at ages 85 (N=332) and 95 (N=63) cross-sectionally a
nd longitudinally in representative populations of non-demented persons, in
order to focus on manifestations related to healthy aging. Among the 85-ye
ar olds, 31% were independent, 42% were dependent on personal assistance in
instrumental ADL (IADL) and 27% in personal ADL (PADL); the corresponding
figures for the 95-year olds were 8, 40 and 52%, respectively. Regarding th
e relationship between cognitive function and ADL, the analysis could only
be performed in the cross-sectional data. At age 85 a significant trend was
found regarding nearly all cognitive tests for both men and women, indicat
ing that subjects who were ADL-independent had better results than those de
pendent in IADL? and both IADL and PADL. At age 95, no such trend was found
in males, but in females the trend was significant, and those dependent in
ADL had poorer results in the separate cognitive tests. By combining the d
ifferent cognitive tests into a compiled cognitive index, it was seen that
the most ADL-dependent persons were more cognitively impaired both at ages
85 and 95, compared to persons who were ADL-independent. Not only cognitive
functioning (OR 3.3), but also mobility (OR 4.9) and tiredness (OR 3.3) we
re independent predictors for ADL-dependence among the 85-year olds. (C) 20
01, Editrice Kurtis.