Title : Association between healthy lifestyle and cognitive decline, all-cause mortality, and mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: a 10-year population-based prospective cohort study
Abstract:
The association between cognitive function, healthy lifestyle, and mortality remains understudied in large Chinese cohorts. Dementia has emerged as a major predictor of mortality globally, placing immense pressure on healthcare systems and social support networks. In this nationwide 10-year prospective study of 24,657 older adults from the China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance, researchers assessed Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) categories and a seven-component lifestyle score for their relationships with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular mortality. Compared with individuals scoring 28 to 30 on the MMSE, lower scores were linked to elevated all-cause and cerebrovascular mortality but not cardiovascular mortality. Participants with lifestyle scores of 4 or 5 had a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with optimal scores. A progressive decline in MMSE scores was strongly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, with hazard ratios of 1.19, 1.34, and 1.49 for scores of 24 to 27, 18 to 23, and below 18, respectively. Even optimal lifestyle practices did not fully mitigate the heightened mortality risk associated with declining cognitive performance. A healthy lifestyle is beneficial but cannot fully offset the impact of cognitive impairment. Integrating routine cognitive assessments and targeted interventions with healthy lifestyle practices is crucial for effectively reducing mortality risk in aging populations.
