Cognitive function and associated factors among older people in Taiwan: Age and sex differences

•Being younger, male, higher education, and doing unpaid work were related to higher cognitive function at the intercept.•Age effect and physical function difficulties would reduce the cognitive function across time.•Education and providing informational support increase the cognitive function across time.•There were age- and sex-differences in the factors related to cognitive function, particularly on the working status and social participation.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to examine cognitive function and the risk and the protective factors by age and sex among Taiwanese older people.MethodsThe data were from a nation-representative panel of older people in Taiwan. The participants completing both the 2003 and 2007 waves were included for analysis in this study (n = 3228). Descriptive analysis and generalized linear model were applied, and the samples were stratified by age groups and by sex.ResultsThe factors related to higher cognitive function at the intercept included being younger, male, higher education, and doing unpaid work. At the time slope, the age effect and physical function difficulties would reduce the cognitive function across time, while education and providing informational support would increase the cognitive function across time. There were age- and sex-differences in the factors related to cognitive function, particularly on the working status and social participation.ConclusionDifferent health promotion strategies to target these populations should be accordingly developed.