Online Program

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Thursday, October 18
Thu, Oct 18, 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Caprice 3-4
Speed Session 1

Investigating the Association Between Veteran Status and Cognitive Decline (304836)

Caterina Baffa, Smith College 
*Emily Daubenspeck, Smith College 
Ziwei Crystal Zang, Smith College 

Keywords: Veteran, Cognitive decline, Dementia, Binge drinking, Generalized Linear Model, Complex Survey Sampling, Population Health

Although 60% of U.S. Veterans are older than 60, little is known about Veterans’ risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. We used 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 113718) to test the relationship between veterans and non-veterans’ self-reported cognitive difficulties. All multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for socio-demographic confounders and accounted for BRFSS’ complex sampling design with adjusted standard errors and sampling weights applied. We tested whether the odds of cognitive difficulties increased by age and varied by alcohol use. The sample consisted of 15.4% veterans; 13.1% reported cognitive decline. Veterans had higher odds of cognitive decline compared to nonveterans, adjusting for confounders and health behaviors (odds ratio (OR)=1.33; 95% CI:1.20-1.47). Veterans older than 75 had higher odds of cognitive difficulties compared to those under 75 (OR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.12-1.90) after adjustment. The odds of Veterans’ cognitive difficulties did not vary by binge drinking status (OR= 1.029; 95% CI: 0.97-1.40). Veterans had higher odds of cognitive difficulties than non-Veterans in this large sample of U.S. adults.