Impact on cognitive functioning for old men studied in the elderly university / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the influence of studying in the elderly university on the cognitive function for elderly. Methods Elderly university group (EUG) was consised of 105 subjects aged ≥60 who studied in the elderly university for one year. Controlled group(CG) was consisted of 105 elderly over 60 years of age who were siblings for subjects and would not studied in elderly university. Meanwhile, it was excluded if they were working. Two groups were excluded depression patients before study. The assessment tools were composed of Center for epidemiological survey of depression scale (CES-D), activity of daily living scale(ADL), mini-mental state examination (MMSE)and Wechsler's adult intelligence scale(WAIS). There were no significant statistics difference in scales of CES-D, ADL, MMSE and WAIS between two groups. Results There were no significant statistics difference of CES-D, ADL and MMSE between two groups after a year, however, the scales of ADL for controlled group after one year was higher than that before one year( t = 2. 191, P = 0.031 ). The MMSE mark shows one(0.95% )sustain cognitive impairment in EUG after one year; meanwhile there were six elders of (5.77%)come up to critical value of cognitive impairment in CG, the difference was almost statistical significance (P=0. 058 ). The WAIS mark demonstrated the total scale, VQ scale and PQ scale was declining. The score of total scale and perform scale of WAIS in CG were (110.3 ±8.2 )and (110.9 ±7.7) respectively. The score of total scale and perform scale of WAIS in CG were ( 107.8 ± 9.6 ) and ( 107.9 ± 13.4 ) respectively. There were significant difference between two groups(P=0. 044, P=0. 049). Furthermore, after one year the score of total scale of WAIS in CG( 110. 6 ± 7.4 ) outstanding be lower than that one year ago(P = 0. 022 ). There was no significant means for the total scale , verbal scale and perform scale of WAIS in CEG before and after year.Conclusion The program of continue education may play a positive role to stay or to improve the descending of the cognitive function in the elderly.