Pattern of Cognitive Decline with Age in the Elderly

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Examination of the changing pattern of cognitive function in old age. METHOD: Cross-sectional observation of MMSEK performances of the elderly living in a rural community. The mean and standard deviation, coefficient of variability, and 95% confidence interval and difference between the upper and lower limits by the 5-year age interval were employed as indicators of the change. RESULTS: Characteristics of the change of the MMSEK score by age were (1) overall decline and (2) widening of variance in terms of the standard deviation, coefficient of variability and difference between upper and lower limits of the 95% confidence interval. CONCLUSION: The changing pattern of cognitive function with age in the elderly is decline with 'fan-spread' shape. Heterogeneity, genetic effect on cognitive function in the old age, cerebral reserve gained before the old age, and different extent of physical activities might suggest some explanation for the phenomena.