# Factors associated with cognitive function outcomes among older adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study explores factors linked to cognitive function in older adults in Kuwait, finding that diabetes increases cognitive impairment risk while higher education reduces it.

## Contribution

The study identifies Type 2 diabetes and education level as significant predictors of cognitive impairment in older adults in Kuwait.

## Key findings

- Type 2 diabetes was associated with more than double the odds of cognitive impairment.
- Each additional level of education was linked to a lower likelihood of cognitive impairment.
- 34.7% of participants had mild cognitive impairment, and 14.2% had moderate/severe impairment.

## Abstract

The number of people living with dementia and/or cognitive impairment worldwide is rising with a negative effect on quality of life for many older adults. This study aims to examine the factors associated with cognitive function among older adults in Kuwait.

This cross-sectional study recruited 253 older adults ≥ 60 years from a Geriatric outpatient unit in Kuwait. Cognitive function (dependent variable) was assessed using the Arabic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with scores < 24 indicative of cognitive impairment. Biochemical, nutritional, clinical, lifestyle, anthropometric, and sociodemographic independent variables were included.

A normal MMSE score was reported for 51.0% (n = 129) of the sample, with 34.7% and 14.2% of participants having mild and moderate/severe cognitive impairment, respectively. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that Type 2 diabetes was associated with more than double the odds of cognitive impairment (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.19–3.94; P = 0.01). Each additional level of education was associated with a lower likelihood of cognitive impairment (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.26–0.43; P < 0.001).

This study identifies key risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in older Kuwaiti adults. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to mitigate cognitive decline in aging populations and provide context-specific data to support policy decisions.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-025-05882-0.