The effects of cognitive impairment on 9-year mortality in a community sample

Martha Livingston Bruce, Rani A. Hoff, Selby C. Jacobs, Philip J. Leaf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using 9-year mortality data on a community sample of 3,560 adults aged 40 and over, this study assessed the effects of cognitive functioning and one-year declines in cognitive functioning on mortality controlling for comorbid chronic medical illness, physical disability, and psychiatric illness. The study determined the 9-year vital status and, among the deceased, date of death of respondents who were first interviewed in 1980 by the New Haven Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Mortality risk by cognitive functioning, as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE), was estimated using Cox Proportional Hazards Models controlling for baseline assessments of physical and mental health. For both men and women, lower scores on the MMSE decreased the risk of survival, although the effect was stronger for younger respondents than older respondents. Decline in MMSE scores over the course of one year had no additional effect on mortality beyond the resulting MMSE score. Cause-specific mortality was also examined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)P289-P296
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume50 B
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of cognitive impairment on 9-year mortality in a community sample'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this