EARLY COGNITIVE MARKERS OF THE INCIDENCE OF DEMENTIA AND MORTALITY: A LONGITUDINAL POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF THE OLDEST OLD

✍ Scribed by BOO JOHANSSON; STEVEN H. ZARIT

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 155 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<53::aid-gps507>3.0.co;2-m

✦ Synopsis

This study examines whether cognitive markers at prior examinations are indicative of subsequent dementia and mortality. The sample was composed of subjects aged 84±90 at baseline who were reexamined three times over a 6-year period on a comprehensive biobehavioral battery. Dementia was evaluated at each examination using DSM±III-R criteria. Results indicated that incident cases of dementia had lower cognitive scores both 2 and 4 years prior to diagnosis, compared to non-demented survivors. Evidence for terminal decline was also found, as people who subsequently died also had lower cognitive performance at prior examinations, compared to non-demented survivors. The ®ndings suggest that mild cognitive dysfunction is an important clinical ®nding among the oldest old and may herald either the onset of dementia or mortality.