Journal
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages 12-17Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2008.06.001
Keywords
Activity loss; Cognitive decline; Vision loss
Categories
Funding
- NIMH [RO 1 MH61331]
- Farber Institute for Neurosciences of Thomas Jefferson University
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES [T32DK060455] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH [R01MH061331] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Background/Methods: The objective of this study was to determine whether relinquishing cognitive, physical, and social activities is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We conducted a 3-year longitudinal study of 206 nondemented patients with AMD. Results: Twenty-three subjects (14.4%) declined cognitively. Age, sex, education, decline in visual acuity, and number of dropped activities were associated with cognitive decline; each additional dropped activity increased the risk by 58%. Subjects who relinquished three activities were 3.87 times (95% confidence interval, 1.95-7.76) more likely to become demented than subjects who relinquished no activities; those who relinquished five activities were 9.54 times (95% confidence interval, 3.05-30.43) more likely. A multivariate model demonstrated that number of dropped activities was a powerful predictor of cognitive decline after controlling for relevant risk factors, particularly for Subjects younger than 80 years of age. Conclusions: Relinquishing valued activities is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline in older patients with vision loss caused by AMD. These data suggest the importance of promoting optimal cognitive and physical health in patients with AMD and perhaps other chronic diseases. (C) 2009 The Alzheimer's Association. All rights reserved.
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