Prevalent skin cancer and conservative faith may be linked with cognitive impairment in Ashkenazi Jewish exceptionally long‐lived individuals

Abstract

Background Exceptional long‐lived individuals (ELLI) are known for their improved health status and independence regardless of life‐style and health behaviors. Yet, little is known about their cognitive function correlates. The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between social, clinical, behavioral and personality factors and cognitive impairment in a sample of Ashkenazi Jews (AJ) ELLIs. Method The study sample included 401 AJ participants, aged 95 years or older, of the Longevity Genes Project at Einstein, who were residents of the northeastern United States and lived independently in the community. Socio‐demographic, medical history data and life‐style factors were collected via mailed questionnaires, telephone calls, or in‐person visits. Personality was assessed through the Personality Outlook Profile Scale. In the event that participants had difficulty responding to questions in a reliable manner, their children or legal guardian assisted them. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) with a score of 24 or lower considered as cognitive impairment. Cross‐sectional associations of medical, social, life‐style and personality characteristics with odds for cognitive impairment were assessed using logistic regression models while adjusting for potential confounders. Result Of the total sample (mean age=97.72.8 years, 84% women), 178 (44%) were cognitively impaired. Following adjustment for age, sex and education, prevalent skin cancer (OR, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.22‐0.74) as well as being conservative religious (OR, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.03‐0.97) and attending temple in Holidays only (OR, 95% CI=0.25, 0.07‐0.88) and weekly (OR, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.06‐0.97) at age ∼70 years were associated with lower odds for cognitive impairment. Conclusion Cognitive impairment correlates in ELLI may differ from those in the general population. Future studies are warranted to explore the role of religious involvement in brain aging. Furthermore, the strong link between a history of skin cancer and cognition in the oldest‐old should be examined.