Access to primary care and cognitive impairment: results from a national community study of aging Americans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite a growing burden of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD) in the US, the relationship between health care and cognitive impairment prevention is unclear. Primary care manages risk causing conditions and risk reducing behaviors for dementia, so we examine the association between individual and area-level access to primary care and cognitive impairment in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Methods

REGARDS participants with a cognitive assessment and vascular measurements at their baseline visit were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Cognitive impairment was defined as a Six-Item Screener (SIS) score < 5. Primary care supply, primary care utilization and emergency department (ED) utilization were m

SUBMITTER: Mullins MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8527792 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature