The Association between Social Support and Cognitive Impairment among the Urban Elderly in Jinan, China

Prevalence and related factors of physical function and cognitive impairment among older adults: a population-based regional cross-sectional study

Background and aims

As the country with the largest and fastest-aging older population worldwide, China has hosted an increasing number of regional investigations into disability among older adults. However, the prevalence of disabilities related to physical function and cognition in southern China remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and associated factors for cognitive and physical function impairment in individuals aged 60 years and older.

Methods

For this population-based cross-sectional study, a total of 5,603 participants were recruited between June 2021 and December 2022 using a multistage, stratified, cluster sampling procedure. Instruments, including a general questionnaire, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), were used to collect data through a WeChat mini program. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to explore the influencing factors.

Results

The prevalence of physical function and cognitive impairment among older adults was 37.3 and 31.0%, respectively. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that age, family income, education level, place of residence, medication type, annual physical examinations, weekly social activities, support from family or friends, hearing disorders, walking disorders, and depression were all associated with both physical function and cognitive impairment. Moreover, an increased risk of physical function impairment correlated with BMI, region, income source, smoking, and weekly exercise, while cognitive impairment was associated with the number of children, insurance type, coronary heart disease, and anxiety. Physical function (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.49-2.16) and cognitive impairment (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.51-2.21) were mutually influential in our study.

Conclusion

This study showed a high prevalence of various factors related to physical function and cognitive impairment. The results revealed that comprehensive and systematic prevention and control programs for disabilities should be developed to improve the quality of life for older adults.

Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly People over 65 Years Old in the Community and Nursing Homes

Objective

Cognitive impairment and depression significantly reduce quality of life in the aging population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and explore its relationship in the elderly.

Methods

A total of 1645 elderly people in nursing homes and 4703 elderly people in the community were enrolled in the survey. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Ascertain Dementia-8 were employed to evaluate depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment.

Results

The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 12.5% in the community-dwelling group and 52.2% in the nursing home group. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in nursing homes was significantly higher than that in community-dwelling groups for the same age group (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 3.9% in the community-dwelling group and 2.0% in the nursing home group. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased with age in the community-dwelling group (p < 0.001). The binary logistic regression results showed that the type of care mode affected the prevalence of cognitive impairment, and the elderly in nursing homes had a high risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 3.528, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.209-5.635, p < 0.001); depressive symptoms had a significant positive correlation with the odds of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.854, 95% CI: 1.052-3.266, p < 0.05); and the cognitive impairment rate increased with age (OR = 1.412, 95% CI: 1.044-1.910, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

There was an increased prevalence in cognitive impairment as well as depressive symptoms in the aging population in Zhongshan city. Population-based mental health strategies need to be urgently implemented for the aging.

Emerging trends in cognitive impairment and dementia among older populations in Asia: A systematic review

Background

Dementia and cognitive impairment rates in Asia have significant policy implications. Contrary to the existing literature, which primarily focused on the Western region, in this study, we provide novel insights into previously unexplored geographical contexts. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in Asia.

Methods

Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we searched six bibliographic databases: Web of Science, Medline, Science Direct, Ovid, Google Scholar, and PubMed. We targeted cross-sectional studies on dementia and cognitive impairment in Asia, published between 2019-23.

Results

Our extensive search yielded 2593 original articles, of which 39 met eligibility criteria. This selection unveiled a significant rise in dementia and cognitive impairment prevalence in Asia, aligning now with trends observed in Western countries - a novel finding that challenges previous assumptions about regional prevalence disparities. The studies predominantly conducted in East Asia (n = 29), along with limited research from Southeast (n = 2), South (n = 7), and Central Asia (n = 1), underscore the geographical gaps in current research. This shift in prevalence patterns is potentially linked to demographic changes, urbanisation, environmental factors, ethnic diversity, and neuroimaging advancements. Identifying modifiable risk factors associated with dementia in these regions presents new avenues for prevention and intervention strategies.

Conclusions

Current dementia research in Asia is concentrated in East Asia, with limited data from Southeast, South, and Central Asia. Comprehensive studies across all parts of Asia are crucial to establishing robust data collection methods and identifying modifiable risk factors. This can help manage and mitigate the growing burden of dementia in these societies.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated factors in middle-aged and elderly people in Anhui Province, China: An observational study

To understand the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) in middle-aged and elderly individuals in Anhui Province and to develop a CI risk prediction model. From May to June 2022, a multistage, stratified cluster-sampling method was used to select 3200 middle-aged and elderly people over 45 years old in Anhui Province for a questionnaire survey, and the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function. SPSS 25.0 was used for univariate and multivariate analyses, and R software was used to establish and validate the nomogram. A total of 3059 valid questionnaires were included, of which 384 were from participants who were diagnosed with CI, and the prevalence rate was 12.6%. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that female sex, advanced age, family history, etc., were closely related to the occurrence of CI. The area under curve (AUC) values in the modeling and validation groups were 0.845 (95% CI: 0.822-0.868) and 0.868 (95% CI: 0.835-0.902), respectively, indicating that the predictive ability of the model was good. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test suggested that the model had good goodness-of-fit, and the decision-curve evaluation nomogram had a high benefit within the threshold, which had a certain clinical importance. The prevalence rate of CI among middle-aged and elderly individuals in Anhui Province was 12.6%. Female sex, elderly age, family history, low educational status, current smoking status, sleep disorders, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes were shown to be risk factors for CI, while exercise was shown to be a protective factor.

Behavioral and psycho-social impairments among people living with dementia and their management by caregivers in South-Western Uganda: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the behavioral and social impairments among people living with dementia (PLWD) in rural southwestern Uganda. It also explored the burden of caregivers for people living with dementia.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study among people living with dementia and their caregivers. We consecutively enrolled 30 people living with dementia with their caregivers from their homes. We conducted in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. We did a thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

The themes under-reported behavioral impairment were; difficulty in personal care, physical inactivity, and impaired judgment. Under the social and cognitive impairment theme, there was the failure to be in social gatherings like church, community groups, and markets. Under the caregivers' role, their burden included managing behavioral, social, and cognitive impairments of PLWD. Although caregivers were committed to caring for PLWDs, this required sacrificing time at the expense of income-generating activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Dementia hinders the behavioral and social aspects of the affected people. Caregivers are highly burdened to care for PLWD. Strategies to minimize caregivers' burden while caring for people living with dementia are recommended.