Analysis of factors influencing age and cognitive function in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Cognitive impairment in the elderly continues to be a serious problem, and existing studies have mostly focused on the elderly as a whole and used multiple linear regression to study the influencing factors, without subdividing them by age, which is a limitation that does not allow us to propose targeted strategies. Therefore, the decision tree and multiple linear regression model were jointly applied in this study to study the cognitive function status and influencing factors of elderly people in different age groups, with other age groups as the research subjects. Methods Data from the China Health and Aging Tracking Survey (CHARLS) 2020 were used to select older adults aged 60-89 as the study subjects, and SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze the data. The factors affecting cognitive function in older adults of different ages were analyzed using the one-way analysis, linear regression model, and decision tree model. Results High level of education, good memory status, and living in towns and cities were protective factors for cognitive function in older adults of all ages. Depression and unsocialization were risk factors for cognitive function in 60-79-year-olds, but not in 80-89-year-olds.Women as a protective factor for cognitive function in 60-69-year-olds, but not in 70-89-year-olds. Disability was a risk factor for cognitive function in 70-79-year-olds, not a factor influencing cognitive function in 60-69 and 80-89-year-olds. Low life satisfaction and lack of pension insurance were risk factors for cognitive function in 80- to 89-year-olds, but not in 60- to 79-year-olds. Conclusion The cognitive condition of older adults deteriorates with age, and there are commonalities and differences in the effects of various factors on the cognitive function of older adults in different age groups. In practice, individualized intervention models should be developed for different age groups to reduce the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in various age groups.