Association Between Lifestyle and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults Attending a Public Hospital in Peru

Background Cognitive impairment in older adults is a public health concern influenced by unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and stress. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of cognitive impairment and explore its association with lifestyle among older adults receiving care at a public hospital in east Lima, Peru. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 126 older adults receiving care at a public hospital in East Lima. Cognitive function was assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Lifestyle habits were measured with the FANTASTIC Lifestyle Questionnaire. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust variance. Results Overall, 36.5% of participants had cognitive impairment according to the SPMSQ, while 42.1% had cognitive impairment or dementia based on the MMSE. Regarding lifestyle, 25.4% were categorized as having a “Fair” lifestyle. In adjusted analyses, having a “Fair” lifestyle was associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment according to both the SPMSQ (aPR 0.35; 95% CI 0.20–0.61) and the MMSE (0.49; 0.28–0.86). The association was even stronger among participants in the “Good work / Congratulations” category for the SPMSQ (0.29; 0.18–0.47) and the MMSE (0.48; 0.30–0.77). Conclusion Among older adults receiving care at a public hospital in east Lima, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was high and showed an inverse association with healthier lifestyle behaviors.