Age-related Changes And The Risk Factors Of Cognitive Function Of Elderly Women

ObjectiveBy analyzing age-related changes and the risk factors of cognitive function of elderly women,to explore the reasons why elderly women are in the inferior position of cognitive function and to explore the risk factors of cognitive function of elderly women,provide a scientific basis for improving the cognitive disadvantage of elderly women and early intervention of dementia.MethodsWe used the longitudinal survey data of the CLHLS project from 2011 to 2014,and mini-mental state examination was used to evaluate the status of cognitive function.The survey data of people aged 65 and above in 2011 were used as baseline data,after 3 years of follow-up to the study population,we first analyzed the characteristics of age-related cognitive changes in elderly women by comparing with the elderly men,and then analyzed the risk factors of cognitive function of elderly women.The data were analyzed with SPSS18.0 software.The measurement data( ± s)were analyzed by t test and variance analysis.Chi square test was used to count data.Univariate analysis of influencing factors was performed by univariate linear regression,and multivariate analysis was performed by multiple linear regression analysis.Results1.The status of the cognitive function of the study populationThe cognitive impairment rate of study population in 2011 was 7.43%,and rose to 8.65% in 2014.Among them,the cognitive impairment rate of elderly women was higher than that of men(P<0.05).With the increase of age,the cognitive impairment rate of elderly women increased from 11.06% to 13.19%,compared to men from 4.26% to 4.69%,and the difference was not statistically significant.2.Age-related changes in cognitive function of elderly womenFrom 2011 to 2014,the change of cognitive score was relatively small.The decline of cognitive score in elderly women from 2011 to 2014 was statistically significant(the difference was 0.40±3.89,P<0.001),and the score of male elderly did not decrease significantly.The MMSE score of elderly women in 2011 was 27.38±3.31,which was lower than the male score of 28.37±2.19(P<0.05),and the score of elderly women in 2014 was 26.98±3.62,which was lower than that of men’s score 28.26±2.44(P<0.05).Except for elderly people born in towns,non illiterates,non farmers,and reading,the cognition score of elderly women is significantly lower than that of male elderly(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores of elderly women and men who were born in towns,non illiterates,non farmers,and reading.3.Risks factors of age-related changes in cognitive function of elderly womenThrough multivariate analysis of the risk factors affecting cognitive function of the elderly women aged 65 and above in China,we knew that compared with elderly men,elderly women were at a disadvantage in general cognitive function,location orientation,reaction ability,attention and computation ability,recall ability,language comprehension and self coordination ability.In the overall cognitive function,the risk factors of cognitive function in the elderly women were age,illiterate,lonely,and low MMSE scores in 2011,and the protective factors were exercise in the past,watching TV and listening to the radio every day.The risk factors for location orientation of elderly women were age,and the protective factors were to participate in social activities,watch TV and listen to the radio every day.The risk factors for the ability to respond of elderly women were age,often being nervous and scared,and the protective factors were watching TV and listening to radio every day.The risk factors for attention and calculation ability of elderly women were age,rural birthplace,Illiteracy,feeling lonely,and poor self assessment of attitude to life,and the protective factors were playing cards,playing mahjong,watching TV and listening to radio every day.The risk factors of recalling ability of elderly women were age,lonely and poor self-assessment ability.The risk factors for language comprehension and self coordination ability of elderly women were age,poor economic status,and protective factor was flower raising.ConclusionWe should improve the cognitive disadvantaged status of elderly women in response to some factors that may cause gender cognitive differences.According to the protective factors and risk factors of cognitive function for elderly women,we should pay more attention to the elderly,illiteracy and other high-risk groups of elderly women,and then carry out effective intervention measures as early as possible to slow down the rate of cognitive impairment and prevent the onset of dementia in elderly women.