10-Year Cognitive Change in the Faroese Septuagenarian Cohort and Impact of Sociodemographic, Lifestyle, and Health Factors

Abstract

Objectives To investigate cognitive change in multiple cognitive domains in a population-based cohort of 713 Faroese older adults. Methods Participants were cognitively tested at baseline (70–74 years) and re-evaluated after 10 years. Changes in cognitive performance and the impact of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and health conditions were analysed using mixed-effect models. Participants free from dementia were studied in separate analyses. Results A significant decline over 10 years was observed in most of the neuropsychological tests. People living in rural areas, married or cohabiting people, people without professional education, slightly older persons, smokers, teetotalers, and people with heart disease and abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) had a steeper decline in cognitive ability. Conflicting results were found for sex and people with myocardial infarction (MI). Discussion There are modifiable factors that contribute to cognitive decline which should be addressed in future public health efforts.