Open AccessCharacteristics of decline in cognition and locomotion among the elderly in seven provinces of China
Author(s) -
Liu Xiaoshuang,
Luo Senlin,
Zeng Ping,
Gong Huan,
Zhang Yan,
Zhang Enyi,
Han Yiwen,
Pan Limin,
Pang Jing,
Zhang Tiemei
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aging medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2475-0360
DOI - 10.1002/agm2.12091
Subject(s) - dementia , cognition , gait , recall , orientation (vector space) , cognitive decline , preferred walking speed , physical medicine and rehabilitation , china , gerontology , population , elderly people , cognitive impairment , psychology , medicine , audiology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology , disease , geography , environmental health , archaeology , geometry , mathematics , pathology
Background Decline in cognition and in locomotion is associated with aging. However, the relationship between them and the current occurrence of them in Chinese elderly people was weak. Methods To investigate the details of these two functions in Chinese elderly people and to try to find some early recognition and intervention clues, data of MMSE test and usual gait speed from 4487 elderly people from seven provinces in China were analysed. Results The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in persons aged 60 and over was 17.83% and 4.08%, respectively. Among 11 items of MMSE, calculation, three‐word recall, drawing two pentagons, and temporal orientation were the most commonly impaired items in persons with MCI or dementia. The gait speed of old persons with dementia was significantly slower than that of persons with MCI or NCI. Meanwhile, old persons with gait speed >1.39 m/s fast gait speed also had high MMSE scores and no dementia was detected by MMSE. Conclusion The prevalence of dementia observed in this population was similar to that reported 20 years ago. Loss of temporal orientation and drawing two pentagons may supply more information for early recognition of cognitive impairment. Maintaining locomotion in a proper way may help old persons to prevent cognitive function decline.