HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Greiner, P A Articles by Schmitt, F A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Greiner, P A Articles by Schmitt, F A

The loss of independence in activities of daily living: the role of low normal cognitive function in elderly nuns.

P A Greiner, D A Snowdon and F A Schmitt

University of Kentucky, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington 40536-0230, USA.

OBJECTIVES. This study investigated the role of low normal cognitive function in the subsequent loss of independence in activities of daily living. METHODS. Of the 678 elderly nuns who-completed cognitive and physical function assessments in 1992/93, 575 were reassessed in 1993/94. Mini-Mental State Examination scores were divided into three categories and related to loss of independence in six activities of daily living. RESULTS. Participants with low normal cognitive function at first assessment had twice the risk of losing independence in three activities of daily living by second assessment relative to those with high normal cognitive function. This relationship was largely due to a progression from low normal cognitive function at first assessment to impaired cognitive function at second assessment and was associated with an elevated risk of losing independence in the six activities. CONCLUSIONS. Progression from low normal to impaired cognitive function was associated with loss of independence in activities of daily living. Thus low normal cognitive function could be viewed as an early warning of impending cognitive impairment and loss of physical function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M. Gill and E. A. Gahbauer Evaluating Disability Over Discrete Periods of Time J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., June 1, 2008; 63(6): 588 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Raji, C. A. Reyes-Ortiz, Y.-F. Kuo, K. S. Markides, and K. J. Ottenbacher Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Change in Older Mexican Americans J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, September 1, 2007; 20(3): 145 - 152. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. C. Mantella, M. A. Butters, M. A. Dew, B. H. Mulsant, A. E. Begley, B. Tracey, M. K. Shear, C. F. Reynolds III, and E. J. Lenze Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life Generalized Anxiety Disorder Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 15(8): 673 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Peres, V. Chrysostome, C. Fabrigoule, J. M. Orgogozo, J. F. Dartigues, and P. Barberger-Gateau Restriction in complex activities of daily living in MCI: Impact on outcome Neurology, August 8, 2006; 67(3): 461 - 466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Alfaro-Acha, S. A. Snih, M. A. Raji, Y.-F. Kuo, K. S. Markides, and K. J. Ottenbacher Handgrip strength and cognitive decline in older mexican americans. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2006; 61(8): 859 - 865. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Rapp, M. Schnaider Beeri, J. Schmeidler, M. Sano, J. M. Silverman, and V. Haroutunian Relationship of Neuropsychological Performance to Functional Status in Nursing Home Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, June 1, 2005; 13(6): 450 - 459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Dodge, T. Kadowaki, T. Hayakawa, M. Yamakawa, A. Sekikawa, and H. Ueshima Cognitive Impairment as a Strong Predictor of Incident Disability in Specific ADL-IADL Tasks Among Community-Dwelling Elders: The Azuchi Study Gerontologist, April 1, 2005; 45(2): 222 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Gill and B. Kurland The Burden and Patterns of Disability in Activities of Daily Living Among Community-living Older Persons J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., January 1, 2003; 58(1): M70 - 75. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Raji, G. V. Ostir, K. S. Markides, and J. S. Goodwin The Interaction of Cognitive and Emotional Status on Subsequent Physical Functioning in Older Mexican Americans: Findings From the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., October 1, 2002; 57(10): M678 - 682. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Lee The predictive value of self assessed general, physical, and mental health on functional decline and mortality in older adults J. Epidemiol. Community Health, February 1, 2000; 54(2): 123 - 129. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. M. Albert, K. Michaels, M. Padilla, G. Pelton, K. Bell, K. Marder, Y. Stern, and D. P. Devanand Functional Significance of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Patients Without a Dementia Diagnosis Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 1999; 7(3): 213 - 220. [Abstract] [Full Text]