Cognition and daily activities in a general population sample aged +55

ABSTRACT

Objective: We tested the association of individual cognitive domains measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and disability.

Method: Cross-sectional study in a population-based cohort aged ≥55 years (n = 4,803). Sample was divided into two groups: individuals with cognition within the normal range (CNR) (n = 4,057) and those with cognitive impairment (CI) (n = 746). Main outcome measures: The MMSE, the Katz Index (Basic Activities of Daily Living, bADL), the Lawton and Brody Scale (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, iADL), and the Geriatric Mental State (GMS-AGECAT).

Results: MMSE-orientation was associated with disability in bADL, iADL and a decrease in social participation, regardless of cognitive status. MMSE-attention was associated with disability in iADL, but only in CNR. MMSE-language was associated with disability in bADL, iADL and with reduced social participation, but only in CI. Conclusions: The associations observed between disability and orientation may have clinical and public health implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognition
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
• disability
• aging

Acknowledgments

The work under consideration of publication is based in a Research Project that has received the following Funding/support: Supported by Grant (PI16/00896) from the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Madrid, Spain and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) of the European Union “Una manera de hacer Europa”; and Grant from the Gobierno de Aragón (Programa Operativo FEDER Aragón 2014-2020, Group B15_17R)

Disclosure statement

Dr. Gracia-García has received an honorarium from Servier/ Saned, and non-financial support from Servier, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Esteve and Nutrición Médica to attend scientific meetings. Dr. Quintanilla has received an honorarium from Servier/ Saned, and non-financial support from Lundbeck and Janssen to attend scientific meetings. Dr. De-la-Cámara has received non-financial support from Janssen-Cilag, Almirall, Lilly, Lundbeck, Esteve, Novartis, and Pfizer to attend scientific meetings. None of these companies have influenced the content and writing of this work. All other authors have nothing to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Gobierno de Aragón [(Programa Operativo FEDER Aragón 2014-2020, Group B15_17R]; Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Madrid, Spain [(PI16/00896)].