Relationship between Cognitive Function and Body Mass Index in Older Adults Requiring Nursing Care Who Were Using a Daycare Facility

Abstract

[Purpose] The author investigated the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and cognitive function in older adults requiring long-term care who were using daycare facilities. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 24 older adults requiring nursing care who commuted to daycare facilities. Subjects’ age, sex, height, BMI, muscle mass, educational background, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate factors independently associated with cognitive function. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the MMSE score as the dependent variable and age, gender, educational background, and BMI as independent variables. [Results] Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI was the only factor independently associated with the MMSE score. [Conclusion] This result suggests there is a positive correlation between BMI and cognitive function in the older adults requiring nursing care.