Age and Ageing 2000; 29: 523-528
© 2000, British Geriatrics Society
Research papers |
Mental ability age 11 years and health status age 77 years
Centre for the Study of the Ageing Brain, University of Edinburgh, UK
1 Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK
2 Department of Mental Health, Clinical Research Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH, UK
Abstract
Objectives: to measure the effects of childhood mental ability on health in old age.
Design: longitudinal cohort study.
Setting: community-based.
Participants: survivors of the 1932 Scottish Mental Survey cohort randomly selected from the Community Health Index in North East Scotland.
Measurements: (i) presence of disease by diagnostic category; (ii) cardiovascular, respiratory, anthropomorphic, sensory and locomotor physiological variables; (iii) Barthel index of functional independence; (iv) socio-demographic and socio-economic variables as health status predictors; and (v) score on the Moray House Test in 1932.
Results: There was no significant difference in Moray House Test score in 1932 between those with (mean 39.7, S.D. 13.8) and without (mean 40.1, S.D. 12.1) current disease (F=0.04, P=0.84). Physiological health status was predicted by demi-span (F=6.87, P<0.001), sex (F=3.69, P=0.001), deprivation category (F=1.45, P=0.05) and the interaction between sex and deprivation category (F=2.01, P=0.002). Moray House Test score in 1932 correlated significantly and positively with Barthel score (r=0.24, P<0.001). No additional general linear models added any other significant socio-economic variable once Moray House Test Score in 1932 was entered. Moray House Test score in 1932 remained significant (ß=0.16, P=0.024) after Mini Mental State Examination score was entered and found to be significant (ß=0.21, P=0.003).
Conclusion: socio-economic and socio-environmental factors are important determinants of some aspects of inequalities in health in old age in this cohort. Pre-morbid mental ability was an important independent predictor of late-life functional independence.
Keywords: disability, health status, neuropsychological tests
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. T Martin, G. M Fitzmaurice, D. J Kindlon, and S. L Buka Cognitive performance in childhood and early adult illness: a prospective cohort study J Epidemiol Community Health, August 1, 2004; 58(8): 674 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. L. Hart, M. D. Taylor, G. Davey Smith, L. J. Whalley, J. M. Starr, D. J. Hole, V. Wilson, and I. J. Deary Childhood IQ, Social Class, Deprivation, and Their Relationships with Mortality and Morbidity Risk in Later Life: Prospective Observational Study Linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the Midspan Studies Psychosom Med, September 1, 2003; 65(5): 877 - 883. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J M Starr, S A Leaper, A D Murray, H A Lemmon, R T Staff, I J Deary, and L J Whalley Brain white matter lesions detected by magnetic resosnance imaging are associated with balance and gait speed J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2003; 74(1): 94 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. J Duthie, L. J Whalley, A. R Collins, S. Leaper, K. Berger, and I. J Deary Homocysteine, B vitamin status, and cognitive function in the elderly Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2002; 75(5): 908 - 913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|