Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41291479›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Association between spouse health and cognitive function in older Chinese adults: a moderated mediation of frailty and activity engagement.

Junhao Huo, Yuyan Ding, Jiandong Bai, Yali Wang, Jinxin Zhang, Shuangshuang Yang, Lili Cui, Ying Yang, Junru Wang, Kai Liu and 3 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Junhao Huo *Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Yuyan Ding *Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Jiandong BaiDisease Prevention and Control Center, Xinqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Yali WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Jinxin ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Shuangshuang YangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Lili CuiDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Ying YangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Junru WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Kai LiuDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Jiahui ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
Juan CaoDepartment of Childhood Health and Health Education, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 750004, China. caojuan@nxmu.edu.cn.
Liqun WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China. wlq920@nxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Ningxia Medical University XT2022014
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe accelerating global ageing phenomenon has given rise to a growing concern regarding cognitive decline in older adults. Research shows that spouse health is closely linked to individual well-being, as the physical and emotional health of one partner significantly affects the other. Although the connection between spousal health and older adults' cognitive function has been recognized, there is still limited research on this specific impact. This study explores how spousal health is linked to cognitive function in older adults by investigating frailty as a mediator and activity engagement as a moderator.

methodsThis study utilized data from the 2017-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), which included a sample of 4,652 Married older adults, all aged 65 and above, living with their spouses. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), frailty was measured with a frailty index, and activity engagement was gauged through various activity measures. By using mediation and moderated mediation analyses via the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

resultsAmong the 4,652 participants, 209 (4.49%) had cognitive impairment. Higher spouse health scores (indicating poorer spouse health) were associated with lower cognitive function and lower activity engagement (p < 0.001), and positively associated with frailty (p < 0.001). The frailty index was also negatively associated with cognitive function (p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that frailty significantly mediated the association between spousal health and cognitive function (β = -0.071, SE = 0.011, 95% CI: -0.094 ~ -0.050), but direct effects were not significant. In moderated mediation analysis, activity engagement moderated the association between frailty and cognitive function, with lower participation amplifying the negative impact (low: β = -0.064; high: β = -0.051; p < 0.05).

conclusionThis study shows a significant association between spousal health and cognitive function among older adults, with frailty serving as a fully mediator in this association. Crucially, activity engagement is associated with a weaker impact of frailty on cognitive abilities, with greater involvement linked to less pronounced cognitive decline. These findings emphasize the dual protective roles of a spouse's health and activity engagement in sustaining cognitive health.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionFrailtyHealth StatusSpousesAgedAged, 80 and overChinaEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleActivity engagementCognitive functionFrailtyModerated mediation effectOlder adultsSpouse health

Identifiers

PMID41291479
PMCPMC12649087

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.