The Relationship between Cognitive Function and Physical Health Factors in the Elderly

The purpose of this research was to find a way to strengthen the cognitive function of the elderly by understanding the relationship between physical health factors and cognitive function in old age. The relationship between physical health factors and cognitive function was analyzed focusing on the number of chronic diseases, the difficulties of eyesight, hearing and chewing, difficulty in movement, nutritional management, and subjective health status. This research conducted a hierarchical regression analysis targeting 10,097 people aged 65 years or older Korean nationwide by using the data from the survey on the status of the elderly in 2020. As a result, males was higher than females in the level of cognitive function, educational training, subjective health status, and nutritional management. The group with a high level of education was the higher in health status and the lower in difficulties of eyesight, hearing and chewing, and movement. Among physical health factors, difficulty in movement, number of chronic diseases, subjective health status, difficulties of eyesight, hearing and chewing were found to have a statistically significant effect on cognitive function in the elderly. On the other hand, nutritional management did not show a significant effect. Strategies to strengthen the cognitive function of the elderly were suggested based on these results. In the direction of strengthening the health equity of the elderly, it is necessary to secure infrastructure and service delivery personnel to strengthen cognitive function and support health care in rural areas. It was proposed to provide an exercise program to improve physical health, and to support assistive devices for relieving the difficulties of eyesight, hearing and chewing.