The A-to-Z factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results of the DeCo study

María Gil-Peinado; Mónica Alacreu; Hernán Ramos; José Sendra-Lillo; Cristina García; Gemma García-Lluch; Teresa Lopez de Coca; Marta Sala; Lucrecia Moreno

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152527

The A-to-Z factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results of the DeCo study

Front Psychol. 2023 Jun 20:14:1152527. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152527. eCollection 2023.

Authors

María Gil-Peinado^{1

2}, Mónica Alacreu^{1

3}, Hernán Ramos^{1

2}, José Sendra-Lillo^{1

2}, Cristina García¹, Gemma García-Lluch¹, Teresa Lopez de Coca^{1

4}, Marta Sala¹, Lucrecia Moreno^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Cátedra DeCo MICOF-CEU UCH, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Valencia, Spain.
² Muy Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos, Valencia, Spain.
³ Department of Mathematics, Physics and Technological Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is known to be mediated by several risk and protective factors, many of which are potentially modifiable. Therefore, it is important to have up-to-date studies that address a standard assessment of psychosocial, clinical and lifestyle variables.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study, with a 24-month timeframe, to estimate the relationship between risk and protective factors associated with dementia, according to the A-to-Z Dementia Knowledge. Participants were considered at CI risk if they tested positive for at least one of three validated CI screening tests: The Memory Impairment Screening, Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire, and Semantic Verbal Fluency. The A-to-Z data Collection included Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener and Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results: The estimated prevalence of CI was 22.6% in a sample of 709 patients with an average of 69.3±10.3 years. The risk factors gradually associated with cognitive decline were hypertension, loneliness, and depression. In contrast, the protective factors gradually associated with less cognitive decline were internet use, reading, and intellectually stimulating jobs. Finally, living alone, having diabetes, taking benzodiazepines, and sleeping more than 9 h were statistically significant associated with CI, whereas to do memory training or a family history of dementia was characteristic of patients without CI.

Conclusion: A joint assessment of the influence of psychosocial, clinical, and lifestyle-related factors is needed to develop dementia prevention strategies.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; dementia; prevention; protective factors; risk factors; screening.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Cathedra DeCo MICOF-UCH CEU. TL was supported by a Research Fellowship grant from Ayudas a la Formación de Jóvenes Investigadores CEU- Santander. The funders were not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.