Risk of dementia and its impact on successfull aging among over 65 year old individiuals

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the risk of dementia and its effect on successful aging in individuals over 65 years of age. Material and Method: The study was cross-sectional. The population of the study consisted of 3525 elderly individuals registered to Mehmet Küçük Family Health Center in Doğanşehir, Malatya. The sample of the study was determined as 513 elderly individuals by power analysis and the study was completed with 516 elderly individuals. Personal Information Form, Standardized Mini Mental Test and Successful Aging Scale were used to collect the data. Data were collected by face-to-face interview technique for individuals who came to Family Health Centers during working hours on 5 working days of the week. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Cronbach's α reliability coefficient, regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean Standardized Mini Mental Test score of elderly individuals was 20.56±4.61 and the mean score of successful aging was 25.02±9.08. It was determined that Standardized Mini Mental Test score, Standardized Mini Mental Test group score, physical activity, income status and health perception had a significant effect on successful aging. Among the independent variables, education level, level of knowledge about dementia, health perception and family history of dementia were found to have a significant effect on the Standardized Mini Mental Test group. Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that as the Standardized Mini Mental Test group score increased, the successful aging score increased and successful aging was positively affected. A significant negative effect was found between the Standardized Mini Mental Test score and successful aging. As the Standardized Mini Mental Test score increases, the risk of dementia decreases. Keywords: Successful aging, dementia, old age