Result of survey on determining the cognitive ability among mongolian elderly / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

Background: In our country, the survey on mental condition of Mongolian elderly, in particularly on assessing the cognitive status has not provided yet. Goal To determine the cognitive status of elderly and find out some factors which affect on it. Objectives:1. Determine the cognitive ability of Mongolian elderly2. Find out some factors which affect the cognitive ability of elderlyMaterials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, we had chosen randomizily 1 cluster from each 4 economic and geographic regions of Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar city, and totally comprised of 1207 elderly, of which 60 and over for male and 55 and over for female. The cognitive status of survey involved elderly was evaluated by mini mental examination test (MMET).Results: The mean age of survey involved elderly was 68.1±8.1 (68.9±6.5 in male and 65.7±8.5 in female). While 60.3(728) percent of elderly people were normal, 39.7(479) percent of them estimated to have cognitive decline. Out of elderly with cognitive decline, 59.5 percent had slight cognitive impairment, 35.1 percent moderate cognitive impairment and rest 5.4 percent had severe cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment predominantly revealed in female and prevailed more in elderly who live in countryside compared to elderly who live in the city (P<0.001). The cognitive impairment was related to educational background of elderly who had cognitive decline. Along the decline of education estimated higher level of cognitive impairment, as well as 47.5 percent of male and 53.8 percent of female, who had lower education, shared most percentage of cognitive impairment, compared to other educational levels.The cognitive impairment is directly correlated to decline of Activity of daily living and Instrumental activity of daily living of elderly (p<0,0001).Conclusions:1. The decline of cognitive status of elderly is correlated to gender. The educational background, income and family are related to their cognitive impairment.2. Activity of daily living and Instrumental activity of daily living have direct correlation to cognitive impairment of elderly.