Association Between Brain Care Score and Cognitive Performance: Findings From a Community-Based Cohort in Singapore.
The Brain Care Score (BCS) is a recently developed tool that measures modifiable risk factors for brain health. This study evaluated the association between BCS and cognitive performance in a community-based cohort from Singapore.
Data were drawn from the Health District @ Queenstown baseline study, a representative multiethnic community cohort. The BCS (range 0-21; higher scores = healthier profiles) was derived from baseline questionnaires across physical, lifestyle, and socioemotional domains. Cognitive recall was assessed with the five-item word recall test, and executive function with the Eriksen flanker task.
A total of 5224 participants (mean age 52.8 ± 17.5 years; 53.1% women) were surveyed between September 2023 and May 2024. Participants with impairment had lower mean BCS than those without (14.9 ± 3.1 vs. 16.2 ± 2.8; p < 0.001). Each one-point BCS increase was linked to 5% lower odds of impaired recall (odds ratios [OR] 0.95; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.92-0.98; p = 0.002), whereas per five-point higher BCS corresponded to 23% lower odds (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66-0.91; p = 0.002). Each one-point BCS increase was also associated with a 0.03-point higher executive function score (β 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.05; p = 0.02), with per five-point higher BCS yielding a 0.15-point higher score (β 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.27; p = 0.02). Associations were stronger among younger, Chinese, and higher income participants.
Higher BCS was associated with better cognitive performance. These findings support its use as a potential community-based tool for brain health risk assessment in Asian populations.
Data were drawn from the Health District @ Queenstown baseline study, a representative multiethnic community cohort. The BCS (range 0-21; higher scores = healthier profiles) was derived from baseline questionnaires across physical, lifestyle, and socioemotional domains. Cognitive recall was assessed with the five-item word recall test, and executive function with the Eriksen flanker task.
A total of 5224 participants (mean age 52.8 ± 17.5 years; 53.1% women) were surveyed between September 2023 and May 2024. Participants with impairment had lower mean BCS than those without (14.9 ± 3.1 vs. 16.2 ± 2.8; p < 0.001). Each one-point BCS increase was linked to 5% lower odds of impaired recall (odds ratios [OR] 0.95; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.92-0.98; p = 0.002), whereas per five-point higher BCS corresponded to 23% lower odds (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66-0.91; p = 0.002). Each one-point BCS increase was also associated with a 0.03-point higher executive function score (β 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.05; p = 0.02), with per five-point higher BCS yielding a 0.15-point higher score (β 0.15; 95% CI 0.03-0.27; p = 0.02). Associations were stronger among younger, Chinese, and higher income participants.
Higher BCS was associated with better cognitive performance. These findings support its use as a potential community-based tool for brain health risk assessment in Asian populations.
Authors
Tan Tan, Senff Senff, Khoo Khoo, Singh Singh, Merchant Merchant, Lim Lim, Lee Lee, Anderson Anderson, Rosand Rosand, Jia Jia, Tan Tan,
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