Multiple socioeconomic risks and cognitive impairment in older adults.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate the multiple effects of socioeconomic factors on cognitive impairment in older persons.

METHODS: Subjects were a nationally representative sample (n = 4,155) aged >or=65 years of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Cognitive status was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Education, income, wealth and occupation were measured, with low levels on each factor combined to produce an aggregate risk score. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the combined effects of socioeconomic risks on cognitive impairment.

RESULTS: A socioeconomic risk gradient was evident, with the combined effect being stronger than any one of the risk factors acting alone. Compared with those with no risks, the odds ratios were 2.4 (for 2 socioeconomic risks), 3.4 (3 risks) and 7.7 (4 risks) for men, and 2.8 (2 risks), 3.5 (3 risks) and 5.4 (4 risks) for women. For individual socioeconomic risks, income and occupation were significant predictors of cognitive impairment in men, whereas in women, all 4 factors were independently associated.

CONCLUSION: Multiple socioeconomic risks have a combined effect on cognitive impairment in older adults.