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Cognitive function has a stronger correlation with perceived age than with chronological age
Author(s) -
UmedaKameyama Yumi,
Kameyama Masashi,
Kojima Taro,
Ishii Masaki,
Kidana Kiwami,
Yakabe Mitsutaka,
Ishii Shinya,
Urano Tomohiko,
Ogawa Sumito,
Akishita Masahiro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.13972
Subject(s) - geriatric depression scale , medicine , vitality , intraclass correlation , gerontology , cognition , mini–mental state examination , correlation , cognitive decline , dementia , depression (economics) , activities of daily living , geriatrics , clinical psychology , psychometrics , psychiatry , cognitive impairment , depressive symptoms , disease , philosophy , theology , geometry , mathematics , economics , macroeconomics
Aim The perceived age of older adults, as measured by their facial appearance, has been shown to be a robust biomarker of aging predictive of survival, telomere length and DNA methylation, and reportedly correlates with carotid atherosclerosis and bone status. This study aimed to determine whether metrics of dementia, including general cognition, vitality, depressive state and self‐supportability, have stronger correlations with perceived age than with chronological age. Methods This study included 124 patients who were admitted to the Department of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, on account of being suspected of cognitive decline. The Mini‐Mental State Examination, Vitality Index, Geriatric Depression Scale‐15, instrumental activities of daily living and Barthel Index were carried out. Five experienced geriatricians and five experienced clinical psychologists determined the perceived age of participants based on photographs. Results The average values of the 10 raters showed excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (3, 10) = 0.941). Steiger's test revealed that perceived age showed a significantly better correlation with the Mini‐Mental State Examination (female) and Vitality Index (total, female) than did chronological age, but not with Geriatric Depression Scale‐15, instrumental activities of daily living or the Barthel Index. Conclusions Perceived age was shown to be a reliable biomarker for cognitive assessment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 779–784 .