ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Med.
Sec. Geriatric Medicine
Cognitive function in normotensive elderly adults: a population-based cross-sectional study in rural China
Changqing Zhan 1
Qiao Wang 1
Yingnian Chen 2
Na Pan 2
Wenyu Wang 1
Xueping Lu 1
Xinling Xie 1
1. Second People's Hospital of Wuhu, Wuhu, China
2. Anhui Wannan Rehabilitation Hospital, Wuhu, China
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction Worldwide, the number of people with cognitive disorders is rapidly increasing. The risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in normotensive elderly individuals remain unclear. This study explored cognitive function and related risk factors in a rural elderly population in Tianjin, China. Methods Participants were recruited from the Tianjin Brain Research Institute. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS (version 27.0), with statistical significance set at P<0.05. Results A total of 386 participants (191 males, 195 females; mean age 65.88 years) were included. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with MMSE scores. Women scored 2.40 points lower than men (95%CI: -3.78, -1.02, P<0.001). Individuals aged ≥75 scored 3.18 points lower than those aged 60-64 (95%CI: -4.88, - 1.49, P<0.001). BMI was positively correlated with MMSE scores, increasing by 0.18 points per unit increase in BMI (95%CI: 0.03, 0.33, P=0.019). Subgroup analysis exploratory results suggested that age may be associated with cognitive impairment in women, while BMI may show a positive correlation with MMSE scores in men. Among participants aged ≥75 years, alcohol status may benefit cognition; triglycerides generally exhibited a risk trend but may show an inverse association in the 70–74 age group. Blood glucose levels showed no significant effect on cognition (P>0.05). Conclusion Older age, female gender, and lower BMI are associated with lower MMSE scores in normotensive elderly individuals. Strengthening community screening and education for older women and men with low BMI is essential.
Summary
Keywords
BMI, cognitive, FBG, MMSE, Risk factors
Received
28 November 2025
Accepted
19 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Zhan, Wang, Chen, Pan, Wang, Lu and Xie. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Changqing Zhan
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