Older adults and functional decline: A cross-cultural comparison

Examined the relationships between functional decline (FD), health risk factors, lifestyle practices, and demographic variables in 2 culturally diverse, community-based samples of 1,011 White and 1,083 Japanese American older adults (aged 65 and older). The study was an analysis of data from 2 ongoing studies of aging and dementia in King County, Washington. Functional status at baseline was evaluated, and factors associated with FD over a 4-yr follow-up period were identified. In 4 yrs of follow-up, 70% of the subjects reported no increase in functional limitation, and fewer than 5% of subjects declined in 5 or more activities. Risk factors associated with FD included increased age, female gender, medical comorbidity (particularly cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and hypertension), elevated body mass index, poorer self-perceived health, and smoking. Depression and diabetes were also significant for persons with the greatest functional decline over the 4-yr follow-up. Japanese speakers were significantly less likely to decline over the follow-up period than White or English-speaking Japanese American subjects. However, Japanese speakers were more likely to discontinue participation during the follow-up period, and may also have been more likely to underreport symptoms of FD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).