Relation between cognitive function and mortality in middle-aged adults: the atherosclerosis risk in communities...

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cognitive decline is a known predictor of mortality in older adults.
• The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) investigates atherosclerosis development in middle-aged individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between cognitive function and all-cause mortality in middle-aged adults.
• To determine if cognitive function measured in midlife has prognostic value for life expectancy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC).
• Assessed cognitive function using Delayed Word Recall Test (DWRT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Word Fluency Test.
• Employed Cox proportional hazards modeling to analyze all-cause mortality up to 1997, adjusting for various risk factors.

Main Results:

• Higher scores on DWRT and DSST were independently associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality.
• Adjusted hazard ratios indicated a reduced mortality risk with better cognitive performance.
• Word Fluency Test also showed an inverse association before covariate adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive function in middle age serves as a significant prognostic indicator for life expectancy.
• Findings in middle-aged individuals mirror the established association observed in elderly cohorts.
• Cognitive assessment in midlife may aid in identifying individuals at higher risk of mortality.