Exploring possible association of various demographic, lifestyle, health and medication use of individuals in relation to self-rated memory using the '45 and Up Study' survey

Abstract

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common with increasing age. It is often a precursor for dementia which is now the third leading underlying cause of death in Australia and is a major and growing cause of debility in an ageing population. Greater understanding of potentially reversible lifestyle, health and other factors that may mitigate or modify MCI is important for a healthy community. Aims & objectives: Several validation studies have shown that self-reported memory can be used to identify MCI. The present study was undertaken to explore the possible association between self-rated memory (SRM) as a 'proxy' variable for MCI and various socio-demographic, socio-economic parameters, lifestyle factors, nutrition status, health factors and medications in a population-based cohort study. The study would help to identify potentially modifiable and non-modifiable factors that might inform interventions in reducing MCI. Methods: Data from the baseline questionnaire for the '45 and Up Study' cohort, collected by the Sax Institute from February 2006 till April 2009, NSW, Australia, were utilized. Data obtained from 266,848 participants aged 45 years and over, were used to examine the relationship between good and better SRM (dependent variable) and various predictors such as a number of socio-demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle, nutrition, health and medications (independent variables). This was done by using logistic regression analysis. Participant data included all those who provided information on SRM and who did not report high or very high levels of psychological distress except depression and antidepressant medications related chapter where data of the mixed population was included. This exclusion of participants from high or very high levels of psychological distress on the score of Kessler 10 questionnaires based on anxiety and depressive indications was done because of its supposed influence on memory. Crude (unadjusted), and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Odds ratios were adjusted where appropriate for various confounders, mediators and moderators i.e. age, sex, relationship, country of birth, work status, Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA), income, education, BMI and alcohol that could influence the relationship between SRM and predictor variables. A free text box option in addition to a selected ticked-box in the '45 and up study' questionnaire were used to identify participant declared medications. A software solution was designed to identify and classify these medicines.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	English