Gait Speed, Smell, and Mental Health in Older Adults' Cognitive Function
Author Information
Author(s): Leah Hanson, Kyle Palmberg, Clarissa Howe, Sally Gustafson, Aleta Svitak, Terry Barclay
Primary Institution: HealthPartners Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Hypothesis
How do gait speed, olfaction, and psychological factors affect cognitive function among older adults?
Conclusion
Gait speed, sense of smell, and psychological factors like stress and depression significantly impact cognitive performance in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Slower gait speed and loss of smell are linked to lower cognitive performance.
- Cognitively impaired participants had significantly lower olfactory and gait scores.
- Higher resilience and social support correlate with fewer cognitive complaints.
- Increased stress, anxiety, and depression are associated with more cognitive complaints.
- A one-unit increase in AST score reduces the risk of cognitive impairment by 11% over 5 years.
- A one-unit increase in GST score increases the risk of cognitive impairment by 60%.
Takeaway
If older people walk slowly or can't smell well, they might have trouble thinking clearly. Feeling stressed or sad can make this worse.
Methodology
The study involved annual assessments using various cognitive and psychological tests among community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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