• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2024

Background: Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated that depression can be associated with cognitive function decline, primarily focusing on older adults due to the neurodegenerative characteristics of dementia. With persistent depression frequently reported in patients with early-onset or young-onset dementia, this study aimed to assess the impact of depression, specifically the changes in depressive symptoms over time, on the risk of cognitive function decline in middle-aged adults in Korea. Methods: This retrospective study utilized data from the first four waves (2006-2012) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), focusing on middle-aged adults with normal cognitive function at baseline. Changes in depressive symptoms were categorized into four groups based on the CES-D score, and their association with cognitive function decline was evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Of the initial 10,254 participants, 3,400 were included in the analysis. Depressive status, particularly newly onset (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-2.93) and persistent depression groups (aOR 5.59; 95% CI 2.90-10.78), were significantly associated with cognitive function decline. In contrast, recovery from depressive symptoms was not significantly associated with cognitive function decline (p=0.809). Conclusions: Our study showed a significant association between changes in depressive symptoms and cognitive function decline in middle-aged Korean adults. This suggests that management of depressive symptoms could be crucial for the prevention of cognitive function decline in this population.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.147-158
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of cognitive function decline among community dwelling elderly. Methods : Data were analyzed from the Survey of Living Condition of Elderly panel study. Cognitive function was measured with the MMSE-KC at baseline and year 3. The study subjects were 5,464 community dwelling people aged 65 years or older who had no disability at baseline. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict cognitive function decline. Results : From 2008-2011, 4,417(80.8%) elderly people had no cognitive decline, and 1,074(19.2%) showed cognitive function decline measured by the MMSE-KC. After adjusting for demographics and baseline MMSE-KC score, the best predictors for cognitive function decline at 36 months were diabetes mellitus, smoking, low intensity physical activity, relationship with relatives and friends. Conclusions : Health promotion programs that are focused on the elderly are essential in preventing cognitive function decline. Promoting regular physical activity, and social relationships should be included in health promotion for elderly. When treating patients with diabetes, preventing cognitive impairment should be considered through education and counseling.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.83-96
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• 2021

Background & objectives: Cognitive function decline is a main factor influencing the overall life of the elderly and places a burden of society. The aime of this study was to investigate the risk factors of cognitive function decline of elderly living alone and living with a spouse. Methods: This study used the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2014 to 2018. 243 older adults who lived alone and 1,155 lived with a spouse with the Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination scores in normal range at the time of 2014 were included in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the difference of risk factors affecting cognitive function decline between in elderly living alone and elderly living with a spouse. Results: Cognitive function decline incidence rate of elderly living alone was 30.5% and the elderly living with a spouse showed 23.0%. According to the results of logistic regression analysis, the risk factors of cognitive function decline in the elderly living alone was age and residential area, while in the elderly living with a spouse were age, education level, social networks, and depression. Conclusions: The factors that affect the cognitive function decline of the elderly living alone and the elderly living with a spouse were different. Accordingly, other measures to prevent cognitive decline are necessary.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.343-351
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• 2020

The present study investigated the related variables of cognitive function, subjective cognitive decline and cognitive training effects. The cognitive training was composed of mete-cognitive education and cognitive task performing. Twenty older adults attended for 14 weeks and were tested before and after the training. Results show that their cognitive level was related with age, self-esteem and personality traits. And subjective cognitive decline was related depression, anxiety, personality traits, self-efficacy, self-esteem and subjective age, but it does not reflect objective cognitive impairments. Their cognitive test scores were enhanced after training in MMSE, memory and executive function, and enhanced scores were related with age, subjective cognitive decline, anxiety, self-efficacy, self-esteem, subjective age and personality traits. Findings suggest one's personality and psychological state need to be considered for the effects of cognitive training.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive function decline by socio-demographic and health-related characteristics (health behaviors and health status) using 5th Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging panel data. Methods: The subjects were 4,440 community-dwelling people aged over 57 years. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, χ²-test, and binary logistic regression analysis using SPSS ver. 25.0. Results: The findings revealed that socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age, area of residence, educational level, marital status, number of children, number of grand-children) and health-related characteristics (smoking, drinking, regular exercise, weight category by body mass index, hypertension and diabetes mellitus) were factors that influenced cognitive function decline (p<.05). Conclusions: Cognitive function decline was closely related to health behaviors and disease types. Future studies must examine related constructs to accurately determine these relationships among various populations. The present study could be used as a tool for the development and implementation of health promotion and prevention strategies.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2023

Cognitive dysfunction is relatively less considered a complication of hypertension. However, there is sufficient evidence to show that high blood pressure in middle age increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age. The greatest impact on cognitive function in those with hypertension is on executive or frontal lobe function, similar to the area most damaged in vascular dementia. Possible cognitive disorders associated with hypertension are vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease, and Lewy body dementia, listed in decreasing strength of association. The pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with hypertension includes brain atrophy, microinfarcts, microbleeds, neuronal loss, white matter lesions, network disruption, neurovascular unit damage, reduced cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier damage, enlarged perivascular damage, and proteinopathy. Antihypertensive drugs may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Given the high prevalence of dementia and its impact on quality of life, treatment of hypertension to reduce cognitive decline may be a clinically relevant intervention.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.200-210
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between menopausal symptoms and decline in cognitive functioning of menopausal women with mediating effects of health promoting behavior. Methods: Using a convenience sampling, 140 menopausal women were recruited for the cross-sectional survey. Data were collected by using the Menopause Rating Scale, Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Everyday Cognition, and Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: The mean scores for menopausal symptoms, health promotion behavior, and subjective cognitive decline were 14.40, 153.79, and 67.40 respectively. Health promotion behavior was directly affected by menopausal symptom ($R^2=8%$). Cognitive decline was directly affected by menopausal symptom ($R^2=11%$). Menopausal symptom (${\beta}=.33$, p<.001) and health promotion behavior (${\beta}=.21$, p=.014) were found to be predictive factors in subjective cognitive decline and explained 14%. Health promotion behavior had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between menopausal symptom and perceived cognitive decline (Sobel test: Z=2.05, p=.040). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, developing nursing intervention programs focusing on decreasing menopausal symptoms and encouraging health promotion behavior are recommended to improve cognitive decline in menopausal women.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2019

Objectives: To identify the factors affecting the cognitive function according to the education level of people aged 65 or older. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014 survey of living conditions and welfare needs of Korean older adults. A total of 10,248 people were analyzed in the final analysis, not including those who responded by proxy and those who did not participate in cognitive function tests. Cognitive function was measured by Mini Mental State Examination -Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS), and logistic regression was performed using the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Results: There were differences in factors affecting cognitive function depending on the education level. Overall, regular exercise had a positive effect on maintaining cognitive function, and the higher the education level, the more important it was to maintain the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADL). In addition, for lower education levels, improving the life satisfaction was important to prevent the decline of cognitive function. Conclusions: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested that customized approaches shoud be taken according to education level when developing and implementing programs to prevent the decline of cognitive function.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.358-372
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• 2020

This study examined the effect of cognitive reserve on the cognitive function in adults. In addition, this study investigated the direct and indirect effects of factors, such as subjective memory decline, depression, and quality of life on the cognitive function. The participants consisted of 253 adults who were 40 to 80 years of age. The assessment tools included the cognitive function scale, depression scale, quality of life scale, subjective memory decline, and cognitive reserve scale. The data results were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, and PROCESS macro for SPSS Version 3.3 and bootstrapping were used. The results of multiple mediating of the cognitive reserve and cognitive function in adults did not have a mediating effect in depression and subjective memory decline, and the quality of life showed a complete mediating effect in the relationship between the cognitive reserve and subjective cognitive function. Based on the results of this study, adults must accumulate cognitive reserve continuously through various activities and continuous training so that the cognitive function can lead to a positive direction. Nevertheless, more studies on cognitive reserve and cognitive function in healthy adults are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.59-66
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to present normative data for older Korean adults completing the Yonsei dual task cognitive screening test (Y-DuCog) and identify changes in cognitive function on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Korean (MoCA-K) with age. Methods : From May 2019 to August 2019, 195 healthy adults aged ≥60 years participated in this study. All participants completed the Y-DuCog to assess their dual-task performance and the MoCA-K to assess their cognitive function. Participants were divided into three groups based on their age: 60~69 years, 70~79 years, and ≥80 years. Results : The results of the Y-DuCog showed that dual-task performance time, effect, and correct response rate decreased significantly with age (p<.001). Scores from the three groups showed differences on all items (p<.001). Cognitive function on the MoCA-K also decreased significantly with age (mean score ± standard deviation [SD]; 27.33 ± 2.61 in subjects aged 60~69 years; 24.82 ± 3.20 in subjects aged 70~79 years; and 22.10 ± 4.91 in subjects aged ≥80 years; p<.001). Conclusions : Occupational therapists should be aware of the decline in cognitive function and dual-task performance time, effect, and correct response rate in older adults and consider interventions to treat this decline. Further studies are needed with larger groups of participants to examine factors, such as sex and education, that may impact dual-task performance and cognitive function.