Aims: To explore the risk factors for subjective cognitive decline and cognitive function among older adults in South Korea.
Design: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design.
Methods: A convenience sample of 182 patients was recruited from a senior welfare center in Seoul. The mean age of the participants was 78.4 years (SD 5.91). Among them, 64.3% were women. The data were collected by a trained research assistant using structured questionnaires from September 2016-February 2017. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, depression, physical and cognitive activity levels, instrumental activities of daily living, subjective cognitive decline, and cognitive function were assessed. Student's t tests, chi-square tests, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used for statistical analyses.
Results: The findings revealed that 37.4% of the participants were not cognitively intact. Depression, perceived health status, and cognitive function were significantly associated with subjective cognitive decline (F = 7.10, p < .001, adjusted R2 = 25.3). Age, educational level, perceived health status, and subjective cognitive decline were significantly related to cognitive function (F = 20.98, p < .001, adjusted R2 = 47.0). After controlling for these variables, cognitive activity was significantly and independently related to cognitive function.
Conclusion: The results suggest that for the maintenance of cognitive function, cognitive activity should be encouraged. In addition, older adults who complain of subjective cognitive decline and have risk factors such as depression need therapeutic interventions to prevent actual decrease of cognitive function.
Impact: The present findings advance prior knowledge by considering variables such as physical and cognitive activity levels to provide novel evidence that can be used to develop interventions for community-dwelling older adults. Thus, to be effective, nursing interventions must seek to improve cognitive function through intellectual stimulation.
目的: 探讨韩国老年人主观认知能力下降与认知功能的危险因素。 设计: 本项研究采用描述性横向设计。 方法: 采用方便抽样方法从首尔某家老年福利院随机抽取182例患者。参与者的平均年龄为78.4岁(SD 5.91)。其中64.3%为女性。数据由经过培训的助理研究员于2016年9月至2017年2月使用结构化问卷予以收集。并对人口学特征、合并症、抑郁、体力和认知活动水平、日常活动工具性活动、主观认知能力下降和认知功能进行评价。采用学生t检验、卡方检验和层次多元回归分析进行统计分析。 结果: 研究结果显示,37.4%的参与者认知功能不完整。抑郁、感知健康状况和认知功能与主观认知能力下降显著相关(F = 7.10, p < .001,调整后R2 = 25.3)。年龄、文化程度、感知健康状况和主观认知能力下降与认知功能显著相关(F = 20.98, p < .001,调整后R2 = 47.0)。在控制这些变量后,认知活动与认知功能显著独立相关。 结论: 结果表明,应鼓励认知活动,以维持认知功能。此外,需对主观认知能力下降且有抑郁症状等危险因素的老年人进行治疗干预,以防止认知功能出现实际下降。 影响: 本研究结果通过考虑体力活动和认知活动水平等变量来推进先验知识,以提供新的证据,从而用于为居住在社区的老年人制定干预措施。因此,护理干预措施必须设法通过智力刺激来改善认知功能,才能取得有效的效果。.
Keywords: cognitive activity; cognitive function; cognitive performance; depression; elderly; gerontological nursing; nurse; older adults; physical activity; subjective cognitive decline.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.