Padoani W, Dello Buono M, Marietta P, Scocco P, Zaghi P C, De Leo D
Psychogeriatric Service, University of Padua, Italy.
Gerontology. 2000 Sep-Oct;46(5):258-65. doi: 10.1159/000022169.
Various factors are considered to influence sexual behavior in the elderly, but the role played by preservation of adequate cognitive functioning has not been adequately explored.
The aim of this research, conducted on 352 older adults aged between 65 and 105 years, was to identify the specific role played by cognitive functioning in sexual activity and sexual interest in the elderly.
The data were collected from elderly people attending the surgeries of 21 general practitioners in the city of Padua (Italy). Analysis of sexual functioning was based on two items, from the LEIPAD questionnaire: 'Are you interested in sex?' and 'Do you have sexual relations?'. Subjects cognitive status was assessed objectively through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and subjectively by the LEIPAD subscale on cognitive functioning.
Subjects who were sexually active and interested in sex were more highly represented among the married elderly. The elderly who reported being active and interested in sex were significantly younger and had a significantly superior educational level and MMSE score. Mean scores for cognitive functioning and all quality-of-life indicators were in general significantly better for the active and interested. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a higher MMSE score and cognitive functioning score influenced the maintenance of sexual interest.
One third of the subjects reported being still sexually active and 40% being still interested in sex. This study seems to suggest that a significant role may be played by cognitive functioning in the maintenance of sexual interest in the elderly, especially older females in whom this dimension is evidently linked to far more diversified experiences than their male peers.
多种因素被认为会影响老年人的性行为，但充足认知功能的保持所起的作用尚未得到充分探究。
本研究针对352名年龄在65至105岁之间的老年人开展，旨在确定认知功能在老年人性活动和性兴趣中所起的具体作用。
数据收集自意大利帕多瓦市21名全科医生诊所的老年人。性功能分析基于莱帕德问卷中的两个项目：“你对性感兴趣吗？”和“你有性关系吗？”。通过简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）客观评估受试者的认知状态，并通过莱帕德认知功能分量表主观评估。
在已婚老年人中，性活跃且对性感兴趣的受试者占比更高。报告性活跃且对性感兴趣的老年人明显更年轻，教育水平和MMSE得分也明显更高。性活跃且感兴趣者的认知功能和所有生活质量指标的平均得分总体上明显更好。单因素逻辑回归分析表明，较高的MMSE得分和认知功能得分会影响性兴趣的维持。
三分之一的受试者报告仍有性活动，40%仍对性感兴趣。本研究似乎表明，认知功能在维持老年人的性兴趣方面可能发挥重要作用，尤其是老年女性，在这方面，她们的经历明显比同龄男性更加多样化。
