Modifiable Factors Associated with Cognitive Impairment in 1,143 Japanese Outpatients: The Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST).

Background/aims: Evidence on modifiable factors associated with cognitive impairment in Japanese patients is scarce. This study aimed to determine modifiable factors for cognitive impairment in a Japanese hospital-based population.

Methods: Subjects of this cross-sectional study were 1,143 patients of Sado General Hospital (Niigata, Japan) registered in the Project in Sado for Total Health (PROST) between June 2008 and September 2014. We assessed disease history, body mass index (BMI), leisure time physical activity, walking time, smoking and drinking habits, and consumption of vegetables, fruits, and green tea as predictors, with cognitive impairment defined by the Mini-Mental State Examination (score <24) as an outcome. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for cognitive impairment.

Results: The mean subject age was 68.9 years, and the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 21.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (p < 0.001), low BMI (<21.1; OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12-1.72), a history of stroke (p = 0.003), a history of myocardial infarction (p = 0.038), low fruit consumption (p for trend = 0.012), and low green tea consumption (p for trend = 0.032) were independently associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment.

Conclusions: Modifiable factors, such as low BMI, low fruit consumption, and low green tea consumption, are associated with cognitive impairment. Longitudinal studies will be needed to confirm these findings.