Poff Jared M, Korinek Kim, Toan Tran Khanh
Sociology Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Family Medicine Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Aging Ment Health. 2025 Feb;29(2):212-219. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2379404. Epub 2024 Jul 16.
Vietnam is an LMIC in Asia that is experiencing rising cases of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Many Vietnamese adults at risk of ADRD have experienced early-life war exposures, which may have negative impacts on their cognitive function in later years.
Our study uses the Vietnam Health and Aging Study (VHAS) to investigate the impact of early-life war exposure on cognitive function in later life while also considering variations in social engagement. The sample consists of 2352 adults aged 60 and older from northern and central Vietnam. Cognitive function, measured by questions from the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and self-rated memory are our dependent variables and five measures related to social engagement serve as independent variables.
Our results show an association between PTSD symptoms and poorer cognitive function (0.0704, < 0.05) and self-rated memory (OR = 0.904, < 0.001; 95%). Similar results are also found among for individuals with lower level of social engagement. Furthermore, several sociodemographic factors exhibit attenuated effects on cognitive function due to variations in social engagement.
Social engagement is generally beneficial for cognitive health amongst those with early-life war exposure, but it does not necessarily attenuate the effects of trauma.
越南是亚洲的一个低收入和中等收入国家，阿尔茨海默病及相关痴呆症（ADRD）的病例正在增加。许多有患ADRD风险的越南成年人早年经历过战争，这可能会对他们晚年的认知功能产生负面影响。
我们的研究利用越南健康与老龄化研究（VHAS）来调查早年战争经历对晚年认知功能的影响，同时考虑社会参与度的差异。样本包括2352名来自越南北部和中部的60岁及以上成年人。通过简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）中的问题测量的认知功能和自评记忆力是我们的因变量，与社会参与度相关的五项测量作为自变量。
我们的结果显示创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状与较差的认知功能（0.0704，<0.05）和自评记忆力（OR = 0.904，<0.001；95%）之间存在关联。在社会参与度较低的个体中也发现了类似结果。此外，由于社会参与度的差异，一些社会人口学因素对认知功能的影响减弱。
社会参与度通常对有早年战争经历的人的认知健康有益，但不一定能减轻创伤的影响。
