[Association between the duration of residence and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: A four-year prospective longitudinal study].

Abstract

Aim: Previous studies have reported that migration is associated with cognitive impairment, and that disconnections from local communities affect cognitive function. This study examined the association between the duration of residence and cognitive impairment.

Methods: The survey consisted of designed a 4-year longitudinal study that was conducted in 2013 and 2017 in Kami Town, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Among the 3,605 completed questionnaires, 2,051 were selected, excluding those with cognitive impairment in 2013 and/or missing data. The duration of residence until 2013 was categorized as ≤ 5 or ≥ 6 years. Cognitive impairment was defined as a person who was determined to have cognitive decline on the Kihon checklist. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cognitive impairment were calculated according to sex and participation in community activities using multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, mobility impairment, and depression.

Results: Of the 2,051 respondents, there were 1,299 women (63.3%; mean age, 74.1±6.2 years old) and the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 514 (25.1%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that women with a residence duration ≤ 5 years were more likely to have an impaired cognitive function than a residence duration ≥ 6 years; the adjusted ORs (95%CIs) were 1.65 (0.55-4.91) in those who participated in community activities and 3.86 (1.33-11.24) in those who did not. In contrast, no significant association was observed among the men.

Conclusion: This finding suggests that among community-dwelling older adults, women who have lived in the community for less than 5 years and who do not participate in community activities may be at increased risk of deterioration in the cognitive domains of the KCL after 4 years.