Abstract
Objective: Many studies have shown that non-motor symptoms can precede the decline of cognitive and motor function in neurocognitive disorders, and constipation is known to be one of them. Our aim is to evaluate cognitive functions in Korean elderly taking laxatives due to constipation.
Method: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA), which is a community-based cohort of aged ≥65 year. Among the cohort participants, 692 individuals (300 men and 392 women) taking prescription medication were enrolled. Eight tests of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer Disease neuropsychological battery (CERAD-NP) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and digit span test were applied to all study subjects. We compared the cognitive functions between the group is not taking laxatives and the group is taking it. The regression analysis was performed to assess the risk of cognitive impairment of the group taking laxatives.
Results: Of the Korean elderly studied, 35(5.1%, mean age: 76.27 ± 8.45) were on laxatives, and 657(94.9%, mean age: 76.77 ± 8.15) were not. There were no differences in age, sex, education, illness burden, sleep quality and score of depression scale between two groups. Scores of CERAD-NP tests and digit span test were not also observed differences. Only the score of FAB was lower in the group taking laxatives (OR=-1.53, 95% Confidence Interval (Cl), -2.83 to -0.29).
Conclusion: The Korean elderly taking laxative showed a decrease in the frontal lobe function. Psychiatrist needs to be of interest to the constipation in the elderly with regard to cognitive impairment not just as the simple physical symptom.