Cognitive function in normotensive elderly adults: a population-based cross-sectional study in rural China

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Cognitive disorders are a growing global health concern, particularly among the elderly.
• Risk factors for cognitive decline in individuals with normal blood pressure are not well understood.
• This study investigated cognitive function and associated factors in a rural Chinese elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore cognitive function and identify related risk factors in a rural elderly population in Tianjin, China.
• To analyze the association between demographic, anthropometric, and clinical factors and cognitive performance.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 386 participants (mean age 65.88 years) from the Tianjin Brain Research Institute.
• Assessed cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
• Employed multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses (SPSS v27.0), with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Main Results:

• Multivariate analysis identified gender, age, and Body Mass Index (BMI) as significant factors associated with MMSE scores.
• Women scored significantly lower than men (P < 0.001).
• Participants aged ≥75 years scored lower than those aged 60-64 (P < 0.001), and higher BMI correlated with higher MMSE scores (P = 0.019).

Conclusions:

• Older age, female gender, and lower BMI are associated with reduced cognitive function (lower MMSE scores) in normotensive elderly individuals.
• Community-based screening and targeted health education are crucial for older women and men with low BMI.
• Further research may explore specific factors like alcohol consumption and triglycerides in different age subgroups.