International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:1383-1388
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Mental Health |
Cognition and survival: an exploration in a large multicentre study of the population aged 65 years and over
Medical Research Council Cognitive Function Ageing Study Writing Committee:
a Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Post Office, Royal Brisbane Hospital, QLD 4029, Australia. E-mail: racheln{at}qimr.edu.au
b Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK. E-mail: carol.brayne{at}medschl.cam.ac.uk
c Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK. E-mail: tony.johnson{at}mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
Abstract
Background Understanding the patterns in determinants of survival becomes increasingly important as the population ages. Dementia is known to shorten survival as is impaired cognition. Whether this is a continuous phenomenon and independent of other explanatory variables is less clear.
Objectives To examine a population-based dataset in which a measure of cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]), self-reported physical health and lifestyle variables were measured at outset, with monitoring for mortality thereafter.
Methods The five identical sites of the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS) were analysed, with populations in rural Cambridgeshire, Gwynedd, Newcastle, Nottingham and Oxford. Survival curves were modelled and stratified analyses carried out, with physical disease, sociodemographic variables and lifestyle variables as covariates.
Results There was a strong and consistent reduction in survival probability for each decrement in MMSE. Adjustment for known confounders did not alter this pattern. Social class and education in particular had no additional effect. Self-reported health was the only other associated variable.
Conclusion Cognitive function appears to be a marker of capacity for survival in the UK. Terminal decline can account for some of this. Actuarial survival provided here can give carers and service providers an idea of prognosis at given ages and levels of cognition, and provide baseline data for those planning interventions in similar groups.
Keywords MRC CFAS, MMSE, survival, self-reported health, epidemiology
Accepted 1 May 2001
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. L. Sampson, M. R. Blanchard, L. Jones, A. Tookman, and M. King Dementia in the acute hospital: prospective cohort study of prevalence and mortality The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2009; 195(1): 61 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. B Rafnsson, I. J Deary, and F. Fowkes Peripheral arterial disease and cognitive function Vascular Medicine, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 51 - 61. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Xie, C. Brayne, F. E Matthews, and and the Medical Research Council Cognitive Functio Survival times in people with dementia: analysis from population based cohort study with 14 year follow-up BMJ, February 2, 2008; 336(7638): 258 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. R. Reed, D. M. Mungas, J. H. Kramer, W. Ellis, H. V. Vinters, C. Zarow, W. J. Jagust, and H. C. Chui Profiles of neuropsychological impairment in autopsy-defined Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease Brain, March 1, 2007; 130(3): 731 - 739. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. McCracken, P. Hudson, R. Ellis, A. McCaddon, and the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function an Methylmalonic acid and cognitive function in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2006; 84(6): 1406 - 1411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Brayne, C. McCracken, and F. E Matthews Cohort Profile: The Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (CFAS) Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2006; 35(5): 1140 - 1145. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. L. Sampson, V. Gould, D. Lee, and M. R. Blanchard Differences in care received by patients with and without dementia who died during acute hospital admission: a retrospective case note study Age Ageing, March 1, 2006; 35(2): 187 - 189. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study, A. G. Yip, C. Brayne, and F. E. Matthews Risk factors for incident dementia in England and Wales: The Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study. A population-based nested case-control study Age Ageing, March 1, 2006; 35(2): 154 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. C. Crooks, D. B. Petitti, S. B. Robins, and J. G. Buckwalter Cognitive domains associated with performance on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status--modified American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, January 1, 2006; 21(1): 45 - 53. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Schupf, M-X Tang, S. M. Albert, R. Costa, H. Andrews, J. H. Lee, and R. Mayeux Decline in cognitive and functional skills increases mortality risk in nondemented elderly Neurology, October 25, 2005; 65(8): 1218 - 1226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Singh-Manoux, J. E. Ferrie, J. W. Lynch, and M. Marmot The Role of Cognitive Ability (Intelligence) in Explaining the Association between Socioeconomic Position and Health: Evidence from the Whitehall II Prospective Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2005; 161(9): 831 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Nishiwaki, E. Breeze, L. Smeeth, C. J. Bulpitt, R. Peters, and A. E. Fletcher Validity of the Clock-Drawing Test as a Screening Tool for Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly Am. J. Epidemiol., October 15, 2004; 160(8): 797 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Elkins, E. S. O'Meara, W. T. Longstreth Jr., M. C. Carlson, T. A. Manolio, and S. C. Johnston Stroke risk factors and loss of high cognitive function Neurology, September 14, 2004; 63(5): 793 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. L. Hart, M. D. Taylor, G. Davey Smith, L. J. Whalley, J. M. Starr, D. J. Hole, V. Wilson, and I. J. Deary Childhood IQ, Social Class, Deprivation, and Their Relationships with Mortality and Morbidity Risk in Later Life: Prospective Observational Study Linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the Midspan Studies Psychosom Med, September 1, 2003; 65(5): 877 - 883. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hee Kang and F. Grodstein Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cognitive function in aging women Neurology, May 27, 2003; 60(10): 1591 - 1597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. M. Mehta, K. Yaffe, K. M. Langa, L. Sands, M. A. Whooley, and K. E. Covinsky Additive Effects of Cognitive Function and Depressive Symptoms on Mortality in Elderly Community-Living Adults J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., May 1, 2003; 58(5): M461 - 467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|