Associated factors to the cognitive function among indonesian older adult living in nursing home.

OBJECTIVE: Many older adults in Indonesia decide to live in nursing homes. Living in a nursing home has been associated with the incidence of cognitive decline in older adult that leads to decreasing ability to perform daily activity. This study aimed to determine the association between demographic and clinical characteristics with cognitive functions in older adults living in nursing homes in Indonesia.

METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design and involved 60 older adults in a nursing home. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) instrument. Demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, education level, length of stay in the nursing home, as well as serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine were studied. Spearman-Rank test was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: Cognitive function of attention had a positive correlation with age (r = 0.314, p = 0.015), length of stay in the nursing home (r = 0.268, p = 0.038), and negative correlation with dopamine serum levels (r=-0.425, p = 0.001). The cognitive function of naming has a positive correlation with age (r = 0.263, p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS: Age, length of stay, and dopamine levels associated with cognitive function in older adult living in nursing homes. The older adult should be assessed in term of factors associated with cognitive function to make the cognitive improvement programs in nursing homes.