Socioeconomic Differences in Cognitive Decline and the Role of Biomedical Factors

This study examines the association between socioeconomic status and cognitive decline in a community-based cohort of well-functioning older adults and seeks to determine whether this link could be explained by biomedical factors. Data are from 2574 men and women aged 70 to 79 years from Pittsburgh,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of epidemiology 2005-09, Vol.15 (8), p.564-571
Main Authors: Koster, Annemarie, Penninx, Brenda W.J.H., Bosma, Hans, Kempen, Gertrudis I.J.M., Newman, Anne B., Rubin, Susan M., Satterfield, Suzanne, Atkinson, Hal H., Ayonayon, Hilsa N., Rosano, Caterina, Yaffe, Kristine, Harris, Tamara B., Rooks, Ronica N., Van Eijk, Jacques Thm, Kritchevsky, Stephen B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Cognition
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Educational Status
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Health Status
Humans
Income
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors
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Summary:This study examines the association between socioeconomic status and cognitive decline in a community-based cohort of well-functioning older adults and seeks to determine whether this link could be explained by biomedical factors. Data are from 2574 men and women aged 70 to 79 years from Pittsburgh, PA, and Memphis, TN, participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study (Health ABC). Three indicators of socioeconomic status were used: education, income, and ownership of financial assets. Cognitive decline over 4 years was defined as a decrease of five points or more in the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) score. Biomedical factors measured at baseline, included heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, poor pulmonary function, and high serum levels of inflammatory markers. Adjusted odds ratios were significantly higher in those with low education, low income, and few assets. Odds ratios ranged from 1.51 to 2.16 in the lowest socioeconomic groups. Additional adjustment for biomedical factors reduced the odds ratios of cognitive decline by an average of 2% for education, 5% for income, and 8% for the number of assets. Low socioeconomic status predicts a decline in cognitive function in older adults and this relationship is not mediated by biomedical factors.
ISSN:1047-2797
1873-2585
DOI:10.1016/j.annepidem.2005.02.008