Relationship between Cognition and Activities of Daily Living in Elderly Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Japan

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between cognition and ADL in elderly women with MIC. Methods: Cognitive function was assessed using a 4-item instrument screening for dementia. Each item was scaled from 1 to 4. The Katz Index was used to Participants (N = 680) were asked to return the completed questionnaire in the sealed envelope provided. The study received approval from the human subject’s ethics committee at Osaka University. Results and Conclusion: Participants’ mean age was 78.2 ± 6.5 years old. The age range of participants was 65 to 97 years old. Associations were not statistically significant between cognitive function and family structure. However, associations were significant for ADL items involving excretory failure (OR = 3.5, p = 0.000 in 2004, OR = 2.9, p = 0.000 in 2005; P < 0.05) using a logistic regression analysis adjusted for age. Therefore, we recommend that nurses work to educate the public about treatment-adjusted dementia in the community, teaching family members or caretakers to observe the ADL of the elderly, being watchful for unusual excretory habits, extra clothes, or the smell of elderly persons’ dirty clothing.