Cognitive Function and Impairment in Older, Rural South African Adults: Evidence from "Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in Rural South Africa".
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND/AIMS:We aimed to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment, and the sociodemographic and comorbid predictors of cognitive function among older, rural South African adults. METHODS:Data were from a population-based study of 5,059 adults aged ?40 years in rural South Africa in 2015. Cognitive impairment was defined as scoring ?1.5 SDs below the mean composite time orientation and memory score, or requiring a proxy interview with "fair" or "poor" proxy-reported memory. Multiple linear regression estimated the sociodemographic and comorbid predictors of cognitive score, with multiplicative statistical interactions between each of age and sex with education. RESULTS:Cognitive impairment increased with age, from 2% of those aged 40-44 (11/516) to 24% of those aged ?75 years (214/899). The independent predictors of lower cognitive score were being older, female, unmarried, not working, having low education, low household wealth, and a history of cardiovascular conditions. Education modified the negative associations between female sex, older age, and cognitive function score. CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of cognitive impairment increased with age and is comparable to rates of dementia reported in other sub-Saharan African countries. Age and sex differences in cognitive function scores were minimized as education increased, potentially reflecting the power of even poor-quality education to improve cognitive reserve.
SUBMITTER: Kobayashi LC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6531856 | biostudies-literature | 2019
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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