Association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment

preprint OA: closed
Full text JSON View at publisher
Full text 190,481 characters · extracted from preprint-html · click to expand
Association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment Xing Wu, Yutong Huang, Xinyu Yao, Yuanxin Han, Huale Zhuang, Yayi Zhao This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 01 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Geriatrics → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Population aging and rising cognitive impairment prevalence are global challenges for healthcare systems. We investigated the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity of everyday activities and medical treatment. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from 457 older adults with cognitive impairment. Cognitive functions were assessed by The Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Chinese version of the Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities and the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment were used to assess the decision-making capacity of medication management and treatment. Multiple linear regression was conducted to analyze the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity. Results Cognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models. Attention and language abilities consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities for both medication management and treatment. Visuospatial and executive abilities and orientation showed significant effect on understanding and appreciation in both decision context. Abstract thinking and delayed recall were non-significant in the models of both decision-making capacities. Conclusions This study provides insights into the association of two key factors (cognitive function and decision-making capacity) for involving people with cognitive impairment into decision-making for themselves to promote quality of long-term care. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. cognitive function decision-making capacity Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment Highlights Decision-making capacity is a crucial factor determining the ability to participate effectively and the extent of participation of individuals with cognitive impairment. Previous studies related to decision making, such as advance care planning always classified the study population based on cognitive function, seldomly considering the participants’ decision-making capacity. Cognitive correlates of decision-making capacity are poorly studied. Attention and language abilities consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities for both medication management and treatment. Abstract thinking and delayed recall were non-significant in the models of both decision-making capacities. Background Population aging and rising cognitive impairment prevalence present urgent challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. In China, among the population aged 60 and above, the number of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia has reached 38.77 million and 15.07 million, respectively [ 1 ] . With such a huge population, ensuring quality of long-term care and quality of life of elderly with cognitive impairment poses a huge challenge. Respecting individuals' wishes is an essential pathway to ensure the quality of long-term care, which requires their involvement in decisions regarding future medical treatment and care [ 2 ] . In this context, older adults’ decision-making capacity becomes a crucial factor determining both their ability to participate effectively and the extent of their participation. Decision-making capacity is the cognitive ability to understand, appreciate, reason, and express choices regarding medical and long-term care [ 3 , 4 ] , including decision-making capacity related to medical treatment and everyday activities, such as instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) [ 5 , 6 ] . Unfortunately, the elderly with cognitive impairments are often excluded from decision making for themselves due to the loss of cognitive function, causing the values and wishes of the elderly are overlooked. However, cognitive impairment is a long-term and gradually progressive process, including MCI, mild, moderate, and moderate dementia. Studies show that elderly with MCI and mild and partial moderate dementia can and are expected to express their preferences for medical care [ 7 , 8 ] . In fact, study found that the degree of decline of cognitive function and decision-making capacity of the elderly with cognitive impairment is inconsistent [ 9 , 10 ] . Elderly with early-stage dementia already show cognitive decline but still maintain relatively good decision-making capacity [ 7 ] . Even elderly with moderate to severe dementia may still have varying degrees of decision-making capacity [ 9 ] . Thus, figuring out the specific relationship between cognitive functions and decision-making capacity is of importance for involving people with cognitive impairment into decision-making for themselves. Studies has shown that there is a significant complex correlation between cognitive function and decision-making capacity [ 5 , 11 , 12 ] . Individuals with MCI demonstrate significantly lower performance than healthy older adults in understanding, reasoning, and appreciation of consequences during medical decision-making, but they scored significantly higher in understanding compared to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease [ 13 ] . However, their ability to make reasonable choices and express preferences remains comparable to cognitively healthy individuals [ 14 ] . Over a 3-year longitudinal follow-up, understanding emerged as the only dimension showing significant decline in MCI cohort and this decline accelerated markedly following conversion to Alzheimer’s disease [ 14 ] . Study also found that in individuals with MCI, short-term verbal memory was the primary cognitive factor underpinning medical decision-making capacity and in mild people with Alzheimer’s disease, executive function and processing speed are the dominant predictors of medical decision-making capacity impairment [ 15 ] . Cognitive correlates of decision-making capacity are poorly studied. The effects of cognitive domains on the decision-making capacity are still unclear. Relationships of commonly measured cognitive domain, such as the delayed memory and attention with decision-making capacity have not been explored, especially the decision-making capacity related to everyday activities. Previous studies related to decision making, such as advance care planning always classified the study population based on cognitive function [ 16 ] , seldomly considering the participants’ decision-making capacity and their inconsistency in the degree of decline with cognitive function. Methods Study design This cross-sectional observational study enrolled participants aged 60 years of age or older. The Declaration of Helsinki was adhered to during this study. All participants gave written informed consent. If a participant was unable to understand the informed consent, consent was sought from their family members or caregivers. This study was reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines for epidemiological reporting. Participants were enrolled in six residential care homes in three cities (Nanjing, Suzhou, Nantong) in Jiangsu, China. Jiangsu is one of the earliest, fastest-growing, and most severely ageing regions in China to enter an ageing society. Nantong, Nanjing, and Suzhou are also three cities within Jiangsu Province with more severe aging levels. Meanwhile, due to factors such as relatively developed economies and fewer children, many elderly people opt to reside in residential care homes, especially after having cognitive impairments. The inclusion criteria were: (1) the individual aged 60 years or older; (2) cognitive impairment with the score of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Beijing Version [ 17 ] less than 26; and (3) informed consent to take part in the study provided personally or by the family. Exclusion criteria were: (1) participants with hearing impairments or language barriers that could not communicate with; (2) individuals with psychiatric disorders. Cognitive functions Cognitive functions were assessed by MoCA Beijing Version. MoCA evaluates cognitive domains including visuospatial and executive abilities, naming, attention, language, abstract thinking, delayed recall, and orientation. The scores of the domains were 0 ~ 5, 0 ~ 3, 0 ~ 6, 0 ~ 3, 0 ~ 2, 0 ~ 5, 0 ~ 6, respectively. The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all domains. If the years of education are 12 years or below, add 1 point to the total score. The maximum score is 30 points, with scores of 26 or more indicating normal cognitive function. The investigators performing the MoCA were certified ( https://mocacognition.com/training-certification/ ). Decision-making capacity Chinese version of the Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities (ACED) [ 11 ] and the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) [ 6 ] were used to assess the decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment. ACED and MacCAT-T assess the decision-making abilities through understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and expressing a choice. Structured interview tailored to participants was used to collect data. Each assessment took 15–20 minutes. ACED has three different versions of daily living activities, including preparing meals, managing finance and managing medications. Given most older adults in residential care homes don't usually prepare meals and manage finance, while almost all of them have medication everyday, the medication management version was used in the study. Prior to administering ACED interview, the interviewer collects information from a knowledgeable informant regarding participants’ functional deficits to allow ACED interview to be tailored to each participant and to facilitate score the participants’ responses. The order of interview is understanding the problems (two questions), appreciating the problem, understanding the options, understanding the benefits (question 1) and harms (question 2) of the options, appreciating the options, appreciating the benefits (question 1) and harms (question 2), first choice, comparative reasoning (two questions), consequential reasoning (two questions), expressing a choice and logical consistency. Each response was scored on a 0 to2 scale, where a score of 0 indicates a wholly inaccurate answer, 1 indicates a partially correct or vague answer, and 2 indicates a complete, accurate answer. The score for understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing are 0 ~ 10, 0 ~ 8, 0 ~ 10, and 0 ~ 2, respectively. Before performing MacCAT-T, participants’ medical treatment information, including diagnosis of disorder, features of disorder, course of disorder, treatment, features of treatment and benefits/risks of treatment was collected from the informants. The order of MacCAT-T interview is understanding disorder, appreciation disorder, understanding treatment, understanding risks and benefits, appreciation treatment, first choice and reasoning (including consequential reasoning, comparative reasoning), generating consequences, expressing final choice and logical consistency. Each response score is the same as ACED. The ability score for understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing a choice is 6, 4, 8, and 2. Sociodemographics Sociodemographics, including age, sex, marital status, educational level, number of children and comorbidity were collected through a structured interview with participants, family or caregivers in the residential care homes. Statistical analyses Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, univariate analyses and regression. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were used to describe the continuous variables of normal distribution, such as age, the scores of cognitive functions and decision-making capacity. Frequency and percentage were employed to characterize the categorical data, such as sex, marital status, educational level, number of children and number of chronic diseases. Univariate analyses were conducted to investigate the association between sociodemographics and each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment by using Student's t-test or one-way analyses of variance test. The association of each domain of cognitive functions and each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment were tested through Pearson correlation. Factors found to be significant in univariate analyses at a level of p < 0.05 were chosen for inclusion in the multiple linear regression analyses, with each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment as the dependent variable and the identified factors as independent variables. Multicollinearity were tested by Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), with the range of 1 to 5 indicating mild or acceptable multicollinearity. Histogram and P-P plot were used to test the distribution of standardized residuals. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistic (version 22). p -values less than 0.05were considered statistically significant. Results Participants’ characteristics A total of 457 participants were included and their average age was 81.79 (SD = 7.90) years. Male participants accounted for 43.1%, but unmarried (68.5%) was the predominant. The proportions of participants who were illiterate (21.7%), had primary school education (30.6%), middle school education (22.1%), or high school education and above (25.6%) were roughly comparable. Only 5.27% of participants had no children, 39% had two children, and 29.2% had three or more children. The majority of participants (86.0%) suffered from chronic diseases (Table 1 ). Table 1 Participants’ characteristics and univariate analyses of the association with decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living n(%) Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing r/mean(SD) t/F p r/mean(SD) t/F p r/mean(SD) t/F p r/mean(SD) t/F p Age[mean(SD)] 81.79(7.90) 0.021 b 0.656 0.023 b 0.618 0.039 b 0.411 0.042 b 0.374 Sex Male 197(43.1%) 6.32(3.39) 1.373 c 0.171 6.20(2.39) 0.042 c 0.966 7.47(3.34) -0.463 c 0.644 1.75(0.64) -0.516 c 0.606 Female 260(56.9%) 5.88(3.37) 6.19(2.39) 7.62(3.46) 1.78(0.61) Marital status Unmarried 313(68.5%) 5.59(3.37) -4.619 c < 0.001 5.90(2.52) -3.905 c < 0.001 7.23(3.58) -2.968 c 0.003 1.71(0.68) -2.596 c 0.010 Married 144(31.5%) 7.10(3.19) 6.83(1.94) 8.24(2.90) 1.88(0.47) Educational level Illiteracy 99(21.7%) 4.38(3.18) 18.516 d < 0.001 5.75(2.63) 4.271 d 0.005 7.12(3.66) 2.924 d 0.034 1.72(0.69) 1.414 d 0.238 Primary school 140(30.6%) 5.62(3.32) 5.89(2.52) 7.15(3.71) 1.70(0.70) Middle school 101(22.1%) 6.80(3.10) 6.42(2.18) 7.72(3.20) 1.81(0.56) High school or above 117(25.6%) 7.40(3.18) 6.74(2.07) 8.25(2.86) 1.84(0.52) Number of children a None 24(5.27%) 4.75(3.39) 1.608 d 0.187 4.63(2.90) 3.944 d 0.009 5.83(3.93) 2.381 d 0.069 1.58(0.83) 0.797 d 0.496 One 120(26.4%) 6.23(3.55) 6.31(2.42) 7.82(3.31) 1.79(0.59) Two 178(39.1%) 6.29(3.26) 6.37(2.22) 7.66(3.31) 1.78(0.60) ≥three 133(29.2%) 5.96(3.32) 6.17(2.41) 7.57(3.40) 1.76(0.63) Chronic disease Yes 393(86.0%) 6.19(3.33) 1.815 c 0.070 6.26(2.34) 1.487 c 0.138 7.65(3.38) 1.507 c 0.136 1.78(3.38) 1.051 c 0.294 No 64(14.0%) 5.36(3.69) 5.78(2.65) 6.94(3.54) 1.69(0.73) a : 2 missing data; b : r value; c : t value; d : F value. Abbreviation: SD = standard deviation. In terms of cognitive functions, the average scores of visuospatial and executive abilities, naming, attention, language, abstract thinking, delayed recall and orientation were 1.31 (SD = 1.25), 1.90 (SD = 1.09), 3.65 (SD = 2.08), 1.65 (SD = 1.19), 0.50 (SD = 0.71), 0.38 (SD = 0.82) and 3.16 (SD = 2.00), respectively. For the decision-making capacity to medication management, scores of understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing were 6.07 (SD = 3.39), 6.19 (SD = 2.39), 7.55 (SD = 3.41), 1.76 (SD = 0.63), respectively. The participants respectively scored 3.21 (SD = 1.90), 2.89 (SD = 1.47), 5.57 (SD = 2.92), 1.76 (SD = 0.64) averagely in understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing for decision-making capacity to treatment. Univariate analyses of association of cognitive functions with decision-making capacity For the decision-making capacity to medication management, univariate analysis showed that marital status was associated with all four domains. Educational level was associated with understanding, appreciation and reasoning. Number of children was associated with appreciation (Table 1 ). The domains of cognitive functions were statistically positively associated with four domains of decision-making abilities ( p < 0.001) (Table 3 ). For the decision-making capacity to treatment, univariate analysis showed that marital status was associated with understanding, appreciation and reasoning. Educational level was associated with all four domains. Number of children was associated with understanding and appreciation (Table 2 ). The domains of cognitive functions were statistically positively associated with four domains of decision-making abilities ( p < 0.001) (Table 3 ). Table 2 Univariate analyses of association of participants’ characteristics with decision-making abilities related to treatment Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing r/mean (SD) t/F p r/mean (SD) t/F p r/mean (SD) t/F p r/mean (SD) t/F p Age[mean (SD)] 0.028 b 0.545 0.048 b 0.304 0.059 b 0.208 0.002 b 0.958 Sex Male 3.28(1.96) 0.680 c 0.497 2.85(1.51) -0.566 c 0.572 5.59(2.89) 0.145 c 0.884 1.78(0.62) 0.655 c 0.513 Female 3.15(1.86) 2.93(1.44) 5.55(2.95) 1.74(0.66) Marital status Unmarried 2.96(1.90) -4.201 c < 0.001 2.74(1.55) -3.355 c 0.001 5.30(3.04) -2.981 c 0.003 1.73(0.68) -1.519 c 0.129 Married 3.74(1.81) 3.23(1.23) 6.17(2.56) 1.83(0.55) Educational level Illiteracy 2.52(1.77) 13.268 d < 0.001 2.62(1.57) 4.217 d 0.006 4.73(2.99) 7.701 d < 0.001 1.62(0.78) 3.489 d 0.016 Primary school 2.85(1.92) 2.75(1.57) 5.18(3.26) 1.71(0.69) Middle school 3.54(1.73) 2.93(1.37) 5.99(2.62) 1.85(0.52) High school or above 3.91(1.86) 3.27(1.27) 6.39(2.39) 1.86(0.51) Number of children a None 2.06(1.97) 3.526 d 0.015 2.00(1.56) 3.173 d 0.024 4.67(3.17) 0.998 d 0.393 1.75(0.68) 0.091 d 0.965 One 3.25(2.04) 2.93(1.53) 5.51(3.06) 1.77(0.64) Two 3.39(1.77) 2.94(1.40) 5.68(2.86) 1.75(0.65) ≥three 3.17(1.87) 2.96(1.47) 5.73(2.76) 1.79(0.59) Chronic disease Yes 3.27(1.89) 1.748 c 0.084 2.94(1.46) 1.707 c 0.092 5.65(2.90) 1.470 c 0.145 1.76(0.64) 0.121 c 0.904 No 2.81(1.97) 2.59(1.52) 5.06(3.00) 1.75(0.67) a : 2 missing data; b : r value; c : t value; d : F value. Abbreviation: SD = standard deviation. Table 3 Pearson correlation of cognitive domains and decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living and treatment ACED MacCAT-T Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing Visuospatial and executive abilities 0.596 ** 0.551 ** 0.559 ** 0.366 ** 0.617 ** 0.530 ** 0.581 ** 0.364 ** Naming 0.519 ** 0.515 ** 0.465 ** 0.425 ** 0.489 ** 0.434 ** 0.479 ** 0.386 ** Attention 0.728 ** 0.700 ** 0.746 ** 0.507 ** 0.741 ** 0.674 ** 0.768 ** 0.535 ** Language 0.752 ** 0.644 ** 0.625 ** 0.465 ** 0.744 ** 0.634 ** 0.712 ** 0.486 ** Abstract thinking 0.483 ** 0.377 ** 0.354 ** 0.247 ** 0.445 ** 0.352 ** 0.429 ** 0.256 ** Delayed recall 0.402 ** 0.316 ** 0.275 ** 0.157 ** 0.404 ** 0.296 ** 0.320 ** 0.173 ** Orientation 0.663 ** 0.560 ** 0.520 ** 0.348 ** 0.639 ** 0.595 ** 0.628 ** 0.377 ** ** : p < 0.001; Abbreviation: ACED = Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities; MacCAT-T = MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment Multivariate analyses of association of cognitive functions with decision-making capacity In all multiple linear regression models, VIF ranged from 1.037 to 2.758. Both the histogram and P-P plot show that the standardized residuals followed a normal or approximately normal distribution. For the decision-making capacity to medication management, visuospatial and executive abilities (β = 0.08), attention (β = 0.24), language (β = 0.34) and orientation (β = 0.20) remained associated with understanding, accounting for 67.4% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.16), visuospatial and executive abilities (β = 0.10), naming (β = 0.17), attention (β = 0.38), language (β = 0.21) and orientation (β = 0.13) remained associated with appreciation, accounting for 57.3% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.18), visuospatial and executive abilities (β = 0.11), naming (β = 0.10), attention (β = 0.57) and language (β = 0.16) remained associated with reasoning, accounting for 60.5% variation of the model. Naming (β = 0.21), attention (β = 0.31) and language (β = 0.20) remained associated with expressing, accounting for 30.1% variation of the model (Table 4 ). Table 4 Multiple linear regression analyses of association of cognitive functions and decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p Marital status -0.01 -0.05(-0.45,0.36) 0.811 0.00 0.01(-0.32,0.34) 0.968 -0.03 -0.18(-0.62,0.27) 0.430 -0.02 -0.03(-0.13,0.08) 0.632 Educational level -0.00 -0.00(-0.19,0.18) 0.964 -0.16 -0.35(-0.50,-0.19) < 0.001 -0.18 -0.55(-0.75,-0.34) < 0.001 Number of children 0.06 0.16(-0.01,0.33) 0.065 Visuospatial and executive abilities 0.08 0.21(0.01,0.41) 0.040 0.10 0.20(0.04,0.36) 0.017 0.11 0.30(0.08,0.52) 0.007 0.03 0.02(-0.04,0.07) 0.553 Naming 0.07 0.21(-0.00,0.41) 0.053 0.17 0.37(0.20,0.54) < 0.001 0.10 0.32(0.09,0.55) 0.006 0.21 0.12(0.07,0.18) < 0.001 Attention 0.24 0.40(0.26,0.54) < 0.001 0.38 0.43(0.32,0.55) < 0.001 0.57 0.92(0.77,1.08) < 0.001 0.31 0.09(0.06,0.13) < 0.001 Language 0.34 0.97(0.73,1.21) < 0.001 0.21 0.42(0.22,0.61) < 0.001 0.16 0.46(0.20,0.72) 0.001 0.20 0.11(0.04,0.17) 0.001 Abstract thinking 0.06 0.30(-0.01,0.62) 0.059 0.01 0.03(-0.22,0.29) 0.805 -0.01 -0.05(-0.39,0.30) 0.799 -0.07 -0.06(-0.14,0.02) 0.155 Delayed recall 0.02 0.08(-0.17,0.34) 0.512 -0.02 -0.07(-0.27,0.14) 0.505 -0.07 -0.28(-0.55,0.00) 0.052 -0.09 -0.06(-0.13,0.00) 0.063 Orientation 0.20 0.33(0.20,0.46) < 0.001 0.13 0.15(0.05,0.26) 0.004 0.06 0.09(-0.05,0.23) 0.190 -0.02 -0.01(-0.04,0.03) 0.676 Adjusted R 2 0.674 0.573 0.605 0.301 F 105.313 61.804 78.353 25.548 p < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 For the decision-making capacity to treatment, number of children (β = 0.08), visuospatial and executive abilities (β = 0.13), attention (β = 0.29), language (β = 0.33) and orientation (β = 0.16) remained associated with understanding, accounting for 66.8% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.12), number of children (β = 0.09), visuospatial and executive abilities (β = 0.10), attention (β = 0.35), language (β = 0.21) and orientation (β = 0.25) remained associated with appreciation, accounting for 55.0% variation of the model. Marital status (β=-0.06), educational level (β=-0.11), attention (β = 0.45), language (β = 0.26) and orientation (β = 0.18) remained associated with reasoning, accounting for 66.9% variation of the model. Naming (β = 0.14), attention (β = 0.37) and language (β = 0.21) remained associated with expressing, accounting for 31.5% variation of the model (Table 5 ). Table 5 Multiple linear regression analyses of association of cognitive functions and decision-making abilities related to treatment Understanding Appreciation Reasoning Expressing β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p β B(95%CI) p Marital status -0.01 -0.03(-0.26,0.20) 0.795 -0.02 -0.07(-0.28,0.13) 0.484 -0.06 -0.35(-0.70,-0.01) 0.049 Educational level -0.03 -0.05(-0.16,0.06) 0.338 -0.12 -0.17(-0.26,-0.07) 0.001 -0.11 -0.28(-0.45,-0.12) 0.001 -0.07 -0.04(-0.09,0.01) 0.121 Number of children 0.08 0.17(0.05,0.29) 0.005 0.09 0.15(0.04,0.26) 0.006 Visuospatial and executive abilities 0.13 0.19(0.08,0.31) 0.001 0.10 0.11(0.01,0.21) 0.031 0.07 0.17(-0.01,0.34) 0.058 -0.00 -0.00(-0.06,0.05) 0.940 Naming 0.04 0.06(-0.06,0.18) 0.303 0.05 0.07(-0.04,0.18) 0.210 0.05 0.13(-0.05,0.31) 0.158 0.137 0.08(0.02,0.14) 0.005 Attention 0.29 0.27(0.19,0.35) < 0.001 0.35 0.25(0.18,0.32) < 0.001 0.45 0.63(0.51,0.75) < 0.001 0.374 0.11(0.08,0.15) < 0.001 Language 0.33 0.52(0.39,0.65) < 0.001 0.21 0.26(0.14,0.38) < 0.001 0.26 0.64(0.43,0.84) < 0.001 0.212 0.11(0.05,0.18) 0.001 Abstract thinking 0.03 0.07(-0.11,0.25) 0.451 0.00 0.01(-0.15,0.17) 0.938 0.04 0.18(-0.09,0.45) 0.198 -0.040 -0.04(-0.12,0.05) 0.411 Delayed recall 0.04 0.08(-0.06,0.23) 0.263 -0.05 -0.09(-0.22,0.04) 0.183 -0.06 -0.23(-0.45,-0.01) 0.041 -0.073 -0.06(-0.13,0.01) 0.104 Orientation 0.16 0.15(0.08,0.23) < 0.001 0.25 0.18(0.12,0.25) < 0.001 0.18 0.27(0.16,0.38) < 0.001 0.018 0.01(-0.03,0.04) 0.748 Adjusted R 2 0.668 0.550 0.669 0.315 F 92.231 56.384 103.256 27.207 p < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 Discussion This study elucidates the complex interplay between specific cognitive domains, and decision-making capacities to IADL and treatment in a cohort of older adults with cognitive impairment. These cognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models, underscoring their foundational role in communicating and processing information. Additionally, our findings reveal that attention and language abilities consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities (understanding, appreciation, reasoning, expressing) for both medication management and treatment. Attention emerged as the strongest predictor across almost all domains of decision-making capacities, particularly for reasoning abilities where it accounted for up to 57% and 45% of the explained variance. This finding aligns with neurocognitive models positing that the frontal-parietal attentional network facilitates conflict resolution during complex medical choices [ 18 , 19 ] . The vital role of attentional processes in decision-making also evidence in the study by He et al. in the intertemporal choice [ 20 ] . Notably, the dominance of attention aligns with recent evidence that cognitive control capacity, a higher-order attentional function, serves as a core deficit predictive of broader cognitive decline [ 21 ] . The robust association between language proficiency and decision-making capacity highlights the verbal nature of conventional capacity assessments. The role of language in the information processing also supported by neuroimaging evidence, which confirms that non-native speakers exhibit reduced neural coupling in the right superior temporal gyrus under challenging auditory conditions, directly impairing information integration during medical consultations [ 22 ] . This aligns with neurocognitive models positing that attention governs information integration, while language supports the articulation of choices and consequences—both critical for informed consent [ 21 , 23 ] . Our data revealing non-significant contributions from delayed recall challenge dementia screening paradigms centered on memory functions. This suggests that medical decision-making relies more critically on real-time information processing than long-term memory retrieval, a distinction with profound implications for assessment design. This reinforces our position that capacity assessments require paradigm shifts toward real-time processing metrics rather than retrospective memory measures when involving people with cognitive impairment into their own decision-making process. Abstract thinking also did not show significant association with decision-making capacities, while study found that abstract thinking was linked to decision-making problems in depression compared to concrete thinking [ 24 ] . There is currently a lack of research on the specific roles of different thinking modes, such as abstract and concrete thinking, in the decision-making process of people with cognitive impairment. Future research should explore this area further. Visuospatial and executive abilities was uniquely associated with understanding and appreciation in medication and treatment decisions, may due to their role in contextualizing visual health information (e.g., medication labels or treatment diagrams) [ 23 ] . This association reflects the indispensable role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex -parietal network in constructing mental representations of intricate medical information. This network supports spatial working memory for manipulating dosage schedules (e.g., mentally simulating twice-daily administration) and cognitive flexibility for shifting between risk-benefit perspectives during appreciation processes, particularly critical for medication management where executive demands include sequencing temporal actions (e.g., coordinating drug-food interactions). Visuospatial and executive abilities was also associated with reasoning in medication management of decision-making capacities. The association between visuospatial and executive abilities and higher-order decision-making components (understanding, appreciation, reasoning) aligns with established literature on prefrontal cortex function in decision activities [ 3 ] . Naming was linked to expressing choices, emphasizing that lexical access facilitates the communication of preferences [ 3 ] . Furthermore, naming ability, a proxy for semantic memory, extends beyond its established role in verbal expression via left inferior frontal gyrus -anterior temporal lobe lexical networks. Its significant association with appreciation and reasoning of medication decision-making capacities reveals deeper mechanisms. Anterior temporal lobe-derived conceptual knowledge enables value attribution (e.g., grasping that chemotherapy implies immunosuppression), while ventromedial prefrontal cortex integrates these semantic constructs to simulate treatment outcomes during reasoning. Orientation significantly contributed to understanding and appreciation in both decision contexts, reflecting its importance in situating health risks within personal timelines and spatial realities, a task compromised in early Alzheimer’s pathology [ 23 ] . Orientation was also associated with reasoning of treatment decision-making capacities. Orientation demonstrated pervasive influence across decision-making components, underscoring the hippocampal-posterior cingulate cortex episodic buffer as the contextual anchor of medical decision-making. This system binds treatment options to self-referential spatiotemporal frameworks and enables prospective mental scenarios during reasoning (e.g., projecting how recovery timelines align with life events). Its broad explanatory power—particularly for understanding, where accurate information encoding requires anchoring to personal context—explains why orientation deficits in Alzheimer’s disease precipitate early decision-making impairment. Education inversely predicted appreciation and reasoning in medication decisions, suggesting that higher education may foster heuristic biases (e.g., overconfidence in prior knowledge), thereby attenuating careful evaluation of new medical information. This counterintuitive result mirrors findings that educated older adults with cognitive impairment exhibit delayed help-seeking due to underestimated symptom severity. Marital status influenced reasoning of treatment decision-making capacities, possibly reflecting spousal advocacy in healthcare settings, which may supplant independent decision practice and accelerate skill attrition in widowed/unmarried individuals. Number of children enhanced understanding and appreciation of treatment consequences, implicating social support networks in reinforcing insight into long-term health outcomes, a buffer particularly critical in low-education subgroups. Conversely, social connectivity factors, particularly having children, positively influenced treatment appreciation, suggesting that caregiving experience enhances medical reasoning through practical exposure to health advocacy. This study has several limitations. First, this study relied on cross-sectional data. Nevertheless, cognitive function and decision-making capacities change over time. Future study exploring the effects of longitudinal changes of cognitive functions on decision-making capacities could provide more robust evidence for the findings from this study. Second, cognitive functions were measured by classic questionnaire instruments, results may be influenced by participants’ conditions. Future research could employ more objective and accurate strategies to measure cognitive function and cognitive reserve, such as biomarkers or neuroimaging. Emerging neurotechnologies like functional near-infrared spectroscopy showing promise for real-time monitoring of comprehension breakdowns during medical consultations by detecting attenuated neural coupling in language-processing regions may provide objective indicators for association of cognitive functions and decision-making activities in future study. Third, apart from cognitive functions, some other factors, such as depression, which may have effect on decision-making capacity, were not analyzed in current study. Four, this study was not equipped to explain the mechanisms underlying the correlation between domain-specific cognitive functions and decision-making capacity. More research is required to explore the mechanisms behind the relationship. Conclusions This study investigated the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity of everyday activities and medical treatment. The cognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models. Attention and language were found as the neurocognitive pillars of decision-making in people with cognitive impairment. Based on this finding, attention and language deficits should trigger capacity assessments even when global memory is relatively preserved, a nuance missing in current guidelines. The absence of delayed recall warrants particular emphasis. While conventional dementia screens prioritize memory functions, the dissociation between decision-making requirements and conventional dementia screening targets underscores the urgent need for assessment realignment. Future work should develop interventions targeting attentional and linguistic bottlenecks to improve decision-making capacities of people with cognitive impairment. Our results support a hierarchical model where attention and language serve as gatekeepers for higher-order decision processes. When these domains falter, downstream abilities like reasoning collapse regardless of preserved memory or orientation. Abbreviations Advance care planning ACP Mild cognitive impairment MCI Instrumental activity of daily living IADL The Montreal Cognitive Assessment MoCA The Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities ACED The MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment MacCAT-T Standard deviation SD Variance Inflation Factor VIF Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Approval for conducting this study was obtained from the ethical committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (2025NZY-12-01) and management levels of the involved nursing homes. Approval date was June 4, 2025. All participants gave written informed consent. If a participant was unable to understand the informed consent, consent was sought from their family members or caregivers. Consent for publication Not applicable. Availability of data and materials The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Competing interests The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (72304153), the Supporting Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (XPT72304153), and Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX25_2385). Authors' contributions Study concept and design: X.W, Y.Y.Z. Acquisition of data: X.W, X.Y.Y, Y.T.H, H.L.Z, Y.X.H. Analysis and interpretation of data: X.W, Y.T.H, Y.Y.Z. Drafting of the manuscript: X.W, Y.T.H, X.Y.Y. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: X.W, Y.Y.Z. Acknowledgements We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process. She is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. Recommended reviewers We have three recommended reviewers: Zhaozhao HUI, Xi'an Jiaotong University, [email protected] ,Xianwen Li,Nanjing Medical University, [email protected] ,Yaping DING,Nanjing Medical University, [email protected] . References Jia L, Du Y, Chu L, et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and management of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in adults aged 60 years or older in China: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Public Health 2020;5:e661–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30185-7 de Vries S, Verhoef MJ, Vervoort SCJM, et al. Barriers and facilitators that hospital clinicians perceive to discuss the personal values, wishes, and needs of patients in palliative care: a mixed-methods systematic review. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2023;17:26323524231212510. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231212510 Appelbaum PS. Assessment of Patients’ Competence to Consent to Treatment. N Engl J Med 2007;357:1834-40. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp074045 Doyle D, Sollins HL. Decisional Capacity — When and How to Determine. Caring for the Ages 2023;24:16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carage.2022.12.018 Lam LCM, Lui VWC, Chiu HFK, et al. Assessing mental capacity for everyday decision-making in the Chinese older population. Hong Kong Med J 2013; 19:17-20. Lui VWC, Lam LCW, Luk DNY, et al. Capacity to Make Treatment Decisions in Chinese Older Persons With Very Mild Dementia and Mild Alzheimer Disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2009;17:428–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e31819d3797 Bolt SR, van der Steen JT, Khemai C, et al. The perspectives of people with dementia on their future, end of life and on being cared for by others: A qualitative study. J Clin Nurs 2022;31:1738–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15644 Song MK, Ward SE, Hepburn K, et al. Can Persons with Dementia Meaningfully Participate in Advance Care Planning Discussions? A Mixed-Methods Study of SPIRIT. J Palliat Med 2019;22:1410–6. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2019.0088. Hegde S, Ellajosyula R. Capacity issues and decision-making in dementia. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2016;19:S34–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.192890 Visser M, Smaling HJA, Parker D, van der Steen JT. How Do We Talk With People Living With Dementia About Future Care: A Scoping Review. Front Psychol 2022;13:849100. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.849100 Lui VWC, Lam LCW, Chau RCM, et al. Capacity to make decisions on medication management in Chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Int Psychogeriatr 2012;24:1103–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610212000129 de Souza NAP, de Oliveira F, de Carvalho RLS, Dourado MCN. The Relationship Between Decision-making Capacity and the Domains of Awareness in Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2022;36:58-63. https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000484 Parmigiani G, Del Casale A, Mandarelli G, et al. Decisional capacity to consent to treatment and research in patients affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Psychogeriatr 2022;34:529-42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220004056 Okonkwo OC, Griffith HR, Copeland JN, et al. Medical decision-making capacity in mild cognitive impairment A 3-year longitudinal study. Neurology 2008;71:1474-80. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000334301.32358.48 Okonkwo OC, Griffith HR, Belue K, et al. Cognitive models of medical decision-making capacity in patients with mild cognitive impairment. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2008;14:297–308. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617708080338 Fried TR, Cohen AB, Harris JE, Moreines L. Cognitively Impaired Older Persons’ and Caregivers’ Perspectives on Dementia-Specific Advance Care Planning. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021;69:932–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16953 Yu J, Li J, Huang X. The Beijing version of the montreal cognitive assessment as a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment: a community-based study. BMC Psychiatry 2012;12:156. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-156 Klein-Flügge MC, Bongioanni A, Rushworth MFS. Medial and orbital frontal cortex in decision-making and flexible behavior. Neuron 2022;110:2743–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.022 Rajan A, Siegel SN, Liu Y, et al. Theta Oscillations Index Frontal Decision-Making and Mediate Reciprocal Frontal-Parietal Interactions in Willed Attention. Cereb Cortex 2019;29:2832–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.022 He L, Wall D, Reeck C, Bhatia S. Information acquisition and decision strategies in intertemporal choice. Cogn Psychol 2023;142:101562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogpsych.2023.101562 He H, Xu P, Wu T, et al. Reduced Capacity of Cognitive Control in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2019;71:185–200. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-181006 Li Z, Hong B, Wang D, et al. Speaker–listener neural coupling reveals a right-lateralized mechanism for non-native speech-in-noise comprehension. Cereb Cortex 2023;33:3701–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac302 Sun F, Ni Y, Lu W, et al. Confidence bias prescribes the neurocomputational mechanism of decision-making. Cell Rep 2025;44:115563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115563 Dey S, Newell BR, Moulds ML. The relative effects of abstract versus concrete thinking on decision-making in depression. Behav Res Ther 2018;110:11–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.08.004 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 01 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Geriatrics → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 29 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 09 Oct, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Oct, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Sep, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 26 Sep, 2025 Editor invited by journal 03 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 30 Aug, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Aug, 2025 First submitted to journal 23 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7443650","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":526100177,"identity":"4e72e4e0-a9f7-437d-8699-059a46c6c2f4","order_by":0,"name":"Xing Wu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xing","middleName":"","lastName":"Wu","suffix":""},{"id":526100178,"identity":"af1568b6-a533-4b86-9d34-5e289c4f9830","order_by":1,"name":"Yutong Huang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yutong","middleName":"","lastName":"Huang","suffix":""},{"id":526100180,"identity":"1f17da36-042a-463b-835e-996012bed2a8","order_by":2,"name":"Xinyu Yao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xinyu","middleName":"","lastName":"Yao","suffix":""},{"id":526100182,"identity":"e3dc8017-eb8b-4d9d-ab6c-8d597d4a039c","order_by":3,"name":"Yuanxin Han","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yuanxin","middleName":"","lastName":"Han","suffix":""},{"id":526100184,"identity":"5b81ad0e-c4df-43d0-9244-19d5f27a8a18","order_by":4,"name":"Huale Zhuang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Huale","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhuang","suffix":""},{"id":526100185,"identity":"17eea62c-107e-4441-841d-fccac7894ed9","order_by":5,"name":"Yayi Zhao","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCQjFw8/AkABhHiBWi2QDqVoYDOAqCWmRn9388DFPzWEZ49sNzyR+5jDI8d1IYPxcgEcL45xjxsY8xw7zmN05kCbZu43BWPJGArP0DDxamCUSzKR52IBabiSkSTNuY0jccCOBjZkHjxY2ifRv0jz/DvMYz4BoqSeohUcix0yat+0wj4EEREuCASEtEhI5xYZz+9J5JG4kJFv2bpMwnHnmYbM0Pi3yM9I3Pnjzzdqef0ZO4o2f22zk+Y4nH/yMTwsIMPEwNIPcmMAAiSbGBgIagEp+MNQBKfYDBFWOglEwCkbByAQARftHxBkG1koAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yayi","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhao","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-24 01:53:13","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07304-1","type":"published","date":"2026-04-01T16:00:09+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93065291,"identity":"500dc628-d858-49c9-8b9c-d9be0184102b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:24","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":119795,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscriptrevised.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/e210e5283da84461cf8f0ab0.docx"},{"id":93065453,"identity":"cf0bb817-6808-472b-8439-5336d8fe347a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:48","extension":"json","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":7389,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"2df492296e764fe1ae085aeb5e751088.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/0d0fe0f46a4133516bdc777b.json"},{"id":93065130,"identity":"24438a33-fbb4-414f-9243-ce85f3b13409","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:03","extension":"docx","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":17380,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Titlepage.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/7a90c559cc055aa7e0a18e2e.docx"},{"id":93065385,"identity":"659fcc35-9eea-4c56-b51b-823b2eb4b2c9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:38","extension":"xml","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":149236,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"2df492296e764fe1ae085aeb5e7510881enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/492fb35da8dd6e9c89621246.xml"},{"id":93065395,"identity":"18dd2194-322d-4e8c-84d3-8b1d310eb9cb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:41","extension":"xml","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":144170,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"2df492296e764fe1ae085aeb5e7510881structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/8cc3c9a0a742e6a159b74570.xml"},{"id":93065173,"identity":"53e17960-fadf-4531-8a1f-01bdc157ed1d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-08 16:43:11","extension":"html","order_by":5,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":154193,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/656ba4d206b8170fdf51bdb0.html"},{"id":106345109,"identity":"80d79821-68c1-481c-8948-2280de5f4793","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-07 16:18:05","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":991416,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7443650/v1/379984f3-26a6-4f21-92ce-3dd087601b9d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment","fulltext":[{"header":"Highlights","content":"\u003cul start=\"50\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDecision-making capacity is a crucial factor determining the ability to participate effectively and the extent of participation of individuals with cognitive impairment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePrevious studies related to decision making, such as advance care planning always classified the study population based on cognitive function, seldomly considering the participants\u0026rsquo; decision-making capacity. Cognitive correlates of decision-making capacity are poorly studied.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAttention and language abilities\u0026nbsp;consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities for both medication management and treatment.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAbstract thinking and delayed recall were non-significant in the models of both decision-making capacities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e"},{"header":"Background","content":"\u003cp\u003ePopulation aging and rising cognitive impairment prevalence present urgent challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. In China, among the population aged 60 and above, the number of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia has reached 38.77\u0026nbsp;million and 15.07\u0026nbsp;million, respectively \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. With such a huge population, ensuring quality of long-term care and quality of life of elderly with cognitive impairment poses a huge challenge. Respecting individuals' wishes is an essential pathway to ensure the quality of long-term care, which requires their involvement in decisions regarding future medical treatment and care\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. In this context, older adults\u0026rsquo; decision-making capacity becomes a crucial factor determining both their ability to participate effectively and the extent of their participation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDecision-making capacity is the cognitive ability to understand, appreciate, reason, and express choices regarding medical and long-term care \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, including decision-making capacity related to medical treatment and everyday activities, such as instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Unfortunately, the elderly with cognitive impairments are often excluded from decision making for themselves due to the loss of cognitive function, causing the values and wishes of the elderly are overlooked. However, cognitive impairment is a long-term and gradually progressive process, including MCI, mild, moderate, and moderate dementia. Studies show that elderly with MCI and mild and partial moderate dementia can and are expected to express their preferences for medical care \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. In fact, study found that the degree of decline of cognitive function and decision-making capacity of the elderly with cognitive impairment is inconsistent \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Elderly with early-stage dementia already show cognitive decline but still maintain relatively good decision-making capacity \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Even elderly with moderate to severe dementia may still have varying degrees of decision-making capacity \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Thus, figuring out the specific relationship between cognitive functions and decision-making capacity is of importance for involving people with cognitive impairment into decision-making for themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudies has shown that there is a significant complex correlation between cognitive function and decision-making capacity \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Individuals with MCI demonstrate significantly lower performance than healthy older adults in understanding, reasoning, and appreciation of consequences during medical decision-making, but they scored significantly higher in understanding compared to people affected by Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s disease \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. However, their ability to make reasonable choices and express preferences remains comparable to cognitively healthy individuals \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Over a 3-year longitudinal follow-up, understanding emerged as the only dimension showing significant decline in MCI cohort and this decline accelerated markedly following conversion to Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s disease \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Study also found that in individuals with MCI, short-term verbal memory was the primary cognitive factor underpinning medical decision-making capacity and in mild people with Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s disease, executive function and processing speed are the dominant predictors of medical decision-making capacity impairment \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive correlates of decision-making capacity are poorly studied. The effects of cognitive domains on the decision-making capacity are still unclear. Relationships of commonly measured cognitive domain, such as the delayed memory and attention with decision-making capacity have not been explored, especially the decision-making capacity related to everyday activities. Previous studies related to decision making, such as advance care planning always classified the study population based on cognitive function \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, seldomly considering the participants\u0026rsquo; decision-making capacity and their inconsistency in the degree of decline with cognitive function.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy design\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis cross-sectional observational study enrolled participants aged 60 years of age or older. The Declaration of Helsinki was adhered to during this study. All participants gave written informed consent. If a participant was unable to understand the informed consent, consent was sought from their family members or caregivers. This study was reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines for epidemiological reporting.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants were enrolled in six residential care homes in three cities (Nanjing, Suzhou, Nantong) in Jiangsu, China. Jiangsu is one of the earliest, fastest-growing, and most severely ageing regions in China to enter an ageing society. Nantong, Nanjing, and Suzhou are also three cities within Jiangsu Province with more severe aging levels. Meanwhile, due to factors such as relatively developed economies and fewer children, many elderly people opt to reside in residential care homes, especially after having cognitive impairments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe inclusion criteria were: (1) the individual aged 60 years or older; (2) cognitive impairment with the score of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Beijing Version \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e less than 26; and (3) informed consent to take part in the study provided personally or by the family. Exclusion criteria were: (1) participants with hearing impairments or language barriers that could not communicate with; (2) individuals with psychiatric disorders.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive functions\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive functions were assessed by MoCA Beijing Version. MoCA evaluates cognitive domains including visuospatial and executive abilities, naming, attention, language, abstract thinking, delayed recall, and orientation. The scores of the domains were 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;5, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;3, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;6, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;3, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;2, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;5, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;6, respectively. The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all domains. If the years of education are 12 years or below, add 1 point to the total score. The maximum score is 30 points, with scores of 26 or more indicating normal cognitive function. The investigators performing the MoCA were certified (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://mocacognition.com/training-certification/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://mocacognition.com/training-certification/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDecision-making capacity\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChinese version of the Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities (ACED) \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e and the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e were used to assess the decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment. ACED and MacCAT-T assess the decision-making abilities through understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and expressing a choice. Structured interview tailored to participants was used to collect data. Each assessment took 15\u0026ndash;20 minutes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eACED has three different versions of daily living activities, including preparing meals, managing finance and managing medications. Given most older adults in residential care homes don't usually prepare meals and manage finance, while almost all of them have medication everyday, the medication management version was used in the study. Prior to administering ACED interview, the interviewer collects information from a knowledgeable informant regarding participants\u0026rsquo; functional deficits to allow ACED interview to be tailored to each participant and to facilitate score the participants\u0026rsquo; responses. The order of interview is understanding the problems (two questions), appreciating the problem, understanding the options, understanding the benefits (question 1) and harms (question 2) of the options, appreciating the options, appreciating the benefits (question 1) and harms (question 2), first choice, comparative reasoning (two questions), consequential reasoning (two questions), expressing a choice and logical consistency. Each response was scored on a 0 to2 scale, where a score of 0 indicates a wholly inaccurate answer, 1 indicates a partially correct or vague answer, and 2 indicates a complete, accurate answer. The score for understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing are 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;10, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;8, 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;10, and 0\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;2, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore performing MacCAT-T, participants\u0026rsquo; medical treatment information, including diagnosis of disorder, features of disorder, course of disorder, treatment, features of treatment and benefits/risks of treatment was collected from the informants. The order of MacCAT-T interview is understanding disorder, appreciation disorder, understanding treatment, understanding risks and benefits, appreciation treatment, first choice and reasoning (including consequential reasoning, comparative reasoning), generating consequences, expressing final choice and logical consistency. Each response score is the same as ACED. The ability score for understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing a choice is 6, 4, 8, and 2.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographics\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographics, including age, sex, marital status, educational level, number of children and comorbidity were collected through a structured interview with participants, family or caregivers in the residential care homes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatistical analyses\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatistical analyses included descriptive statistics, univariate analyses and regression. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were used to describe the continuous variables of normal distribution, such as age, the scores of cognitive functions and decision-making capacity. Frequency and percentage were employed to characterize the categorical data, such as sex, marital status, educational level, number of children and number of chronic diseases. Univariate analyses were conducted to investigate the association between sociodemographics and each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment by using Student's t-test or one-way analyses of variance test. The association of each domain of cognitive functions and each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment were tested through Pearson correlation. Factors found to be significant in univariate analyses at a level of \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 were chosen for inclusion in the multiple linear regression analyses, with each domain of decision-making capacity to IADL and treatment as the dependent variable and the identified factors as independent variables. Multicollinearity were tested by Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), with the range of 1 to 5 indicating mild or acceptable multicollinearity. Histogram and P-P plot were used to test the distribution of standardized residuals. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistic (version 22). \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-values less than 0.05were considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eParticipants\u0026rsquo; characteristics\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 457 participants were included and their average age was 81.79 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;7.90) years. Male participants accounted for 43.1%, but unmarried (68.5%) was the predominant. The proportions of participants who were illiterate (21.7%), had primary school education (30.6%), middle school education (22.1%), or high school education and above (25.6%) were roughly comparable. Only 5.27% of participants had no children, 39% had two children, and 29.2% had three or more children. The majority of participants (86.0%) suffered from chronic diseases (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants\u0026rsquo; characteristics and univariate analyses of the association with decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"15\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003en(%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean(SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean(SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean(SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean(SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge[mean(SD)]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e81.79(7.90)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.021 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.656\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.023 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.618\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.039 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.411\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.042 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.374\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e197(43.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.32(3.39)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.373 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.171\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.20(2.39)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.042 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.966\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.47(3.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.463 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.644\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.75(0.64)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.516 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.606\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e260(56.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.88(3.37)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.19(2.39)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.62(3.46)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.78(0.61)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnmarried\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e313(68.5%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.59(3.37)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-4.619 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.90(2.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-3.905 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.23(3.58)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-2.968 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.71(0.68)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-2.596 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.010\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e144(31.5%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.10(3.19)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.83(1.94)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.24(2.90)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.88(0.47)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducational level\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIlliteracy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e99(21.7%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.38(3.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.516 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.75(2.63)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.271 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.005\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.12(3.66)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.924 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.72(0.69)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.414 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.238\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrimary school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e140(30.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.62(3.32)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.89(2.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.15(3.71)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.70(0.70)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiddle school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e101(22.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.80(3.10)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.42(2.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.72(3.20)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.81(0.56)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigh school or above\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e117(25.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.40(3.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.74(2.07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.25(2.86)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.84(0.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of children \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNone\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24(5.27%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.75(3.39)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.608 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.187\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.63(2.90)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.944 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.009\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.83(3.93)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.381 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.069\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.58(0.83)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.797 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.496\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e120(26.4%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.23(3.55)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.31(2.42)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.82(3.31)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.79(0.59)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e178(39.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.29(3.26)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.37(2.22)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.66(3.31)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.78(0.60)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;three\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e133(29.2%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.96(3.32)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.17(2.41)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.57(3.40)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.76(0.63)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChronic disease\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e393(86.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.19(3.33)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.815 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.070\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.26(2.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.487 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.138\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.65(3.38)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.507 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.136\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.78(3.38)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.051 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.294\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64(14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.36(3.69)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.78(2.65)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.94(3.54)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.69(0.73)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"15\"\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e: 2 missing data; \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e: r value; \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e: t value; \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e: F value. Abbreviation: SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;standard deviation.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn terms of cognitive functions, the average scores of visuospatial and executive abilities, naming, attention, language, abstract thinking, delayed recall and orientation were 1.31 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.25), 1.90 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.09), 3.65 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.08), 1.65 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.19), 0.50 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.71), 0.38 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.82) and 3.16 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.00), respectively. For the decision-making capacity to medication management, scores of understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing were 6.07 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.39), 6.19 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.39), 7.55 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.41), 1.76 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.63), respectively. The participants respectively scored 3.21 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.90), 2.89 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.47), 5.57 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.92), 1.76 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.64) averagely in understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing for decision-making capacity to treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnivariate analyses of association of cognitive functions with decision-making capacity\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the decision-making capacity to medication management, univariate analysis showed that marital status was associated with all four domains. Educational level was associated with understanding, appreciation and reasoning. Number of children was associated with appreciation (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The domains of cognitive functions were statistically positively associated with four domains of decision-making abilities (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). For the decision-making capacity to treatment, univariate analysis showed that marital status was associated with understanding, appreciation and reasoning. Educational level was associated with all four domains. Number of children was associated with understanding and appreciation (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The domains of cognitive functions were statistically positively associated with four domains of decision-making abilities (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnivariate analyses of association of participants\u0026rsquo; characteristics with decision-making abilities related to treatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"14\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean (SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean (SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean (SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003er/mean (SD)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003et/F\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge[mean (SD)]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.028 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.545\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.048 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.304\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.059 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.208\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.002 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.958\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.28(1.96)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.680\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.497\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.85(1.51)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.566 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.572\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.59(2.89)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.145 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.884\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.78(0.62)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.655 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.513\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.15(1.86)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.93(1.44)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.55(2.95)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.74(0.66)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnmarried\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.96(1.90)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-4.201 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.74(1.55)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-3.355 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.30(3.04)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-2.981 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.73(0.68)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-1.519 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.129\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.74(1.81)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.23(1.23)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.17(2.56)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.83(0.55)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducational level\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIlliteracy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.52(1.77)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.268\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.62(1.57)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.217 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.73(2.99)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.701 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.62(0.78)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.489 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.016\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrimary school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.85(1.92)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.75(1.57)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.18(3.26)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.71(0.69)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiddle school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.54(1.73)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.93(1.37)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.99(2.62)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.85(0.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigh school or above\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.91(1.86)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.27(1.27)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.39(2.39)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.86(0.51)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of children \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNone\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.06(1.97)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.526 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.00(1.56)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.173 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.024\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.67(3.17)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.998 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.393\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.75(0.68)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.091 \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.965\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.25(2.04)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.93(1.53)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.51(3.06)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.77(0.64)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.39(1.77)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.94(1.40)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.68(2.86)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.75(0.65)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;three\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.17(1.87)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.96(1.47)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.73(2.76)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.79(0.59)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChronic disease\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.27(1.89)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.748 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.084\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.94(1.46)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.707 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.092\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.65(2.90)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.470 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.145\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.76(0.64)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.121 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.904\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.81(1.97)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.59(1.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.06(3.00)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.75(0.67)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"14\"\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e: 2 missing data; \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e: r value; \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e: t value; \u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e: F value. Abbreviation: SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;standard deviation.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePearson correlation of cognitive domains and decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living and treatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eACED\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMacCAT-T\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVisuospatial and executive abilities\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.596\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.551\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.559\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.366\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.617\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.530\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.581\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.364\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaming\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.519\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.515\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.465\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.425\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.489\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.434\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.479\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.386\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttention\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.728\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.700\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.746\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.507\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.741\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.674\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.768\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.535\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLanguage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.752\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.644\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.625\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.465\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.744\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.634\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.712\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.486\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbstract thinking\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.483\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.377\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.354\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.247\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.445\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.352\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.429\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.256\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelayed recall\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.402\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.316\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.275\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.157\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.404\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.296\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.320\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.173\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrientation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.663\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.560\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.520\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.348\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.639\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.595\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.628\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.377\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e: \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; Abbreviation: ACED\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities; MacCAT-T\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMultivariate analyses of association of cognitive functions with decision-making capacity\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn all multiple linear regression models, VIF ranged from 1.037 to 2.758. Both the histogram and P-P plot show that the standardized residuals followed a normal or approximately normal distribution. For the decision-making capacity to medication management, visuospatial and executive abilities (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.24), language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.34) and orientation (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.20) remained associated with understanding, accounting for 67.4% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.16), visuospatial and executive abilities (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.10), naming (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.17), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.38), language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.21) and orientation (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.13) remained associated with appreciation, accounting for 57.3% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.18), visuospatial and executive abilities (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.11), naming (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.10), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.57) and language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.16) remained associated with reasoning, accounting for 60.5% variation of the model. Naming (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.21), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.31) and language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.20) remained associated with expressing, accounting for 30.1% variation of the model (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMultiple linear regression analyses of association of cognitive functions and decision-making abilities related to instrumental activity of daily living\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"13\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.05(-0.45,0.36)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.811\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.01(-0.32,0.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.968\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.18(-0.62,0.27)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.430\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.03(-0.13,0.08)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.632\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducational level\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.00(-0.19,0.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.964\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.35(-0.50,-0.19)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.55(-0.75,-0.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of children\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16(-0.01,0.33)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.065\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVisuospatial and executive abilities\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21(0.01,0.41)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.040\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.20(0.04,0.36)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30(0.08,0.52)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.007\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.02(-0.04,0.07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.553\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaming\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21(-0.00,0.41)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.053\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.37(0.20,0.54)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.32(0.09,0.55)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.12(0.07,0.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttention\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.40(0.26,0.54)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.43(0.32,0.55)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92(0.77,1.08)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.09(0.06,0.13)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLanguage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97(0.73,1.21)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.42(0.22,0.61)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.46(0.20,0.72)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.11(0.04,0.17)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbstract thinking\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30(-0.01,0.62)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.059\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.03(-0.22,0.29)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.805\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.05(-0.39,0.30)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.799\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06(-0.14,0.02)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.155\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelayed recall\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08(-0.17,0.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.512\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07(-0.27,0.14)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.505\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.28(-0.55,0.00)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.052\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06(-0.13,0.00)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.063\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrientation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.33(0.20,0.46)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.15(0.05,0.26)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.09(-0.05,0.23)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.190\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.01(-0.04,0.03)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.676\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdjusted R\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.674\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.573\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.605\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.301\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eF\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e105.313\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e61.804\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e78.353\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.548\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the decision-making capacity to treatment, number of children (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08), visuospatial and executive abilities (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.13), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.29), language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.33) and orientation (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.16) remained associated with understanding, accounting for 66.8% variation of the model. Educational level (β=-0.12), number of children (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.09), visuospatial and executive abilities (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.10), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.35), language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.21) and orientation (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.25) remained associated with appreciation, accounting for 55.0% variation of the model. Marital status (β=-0.06), educational level (β=-0.11), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.45), language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.26) and orientation (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.18) remained associated with reasoning, accounting for 66.9% variation of the model. Naming (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.14), attention (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.37) and language (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.21) remained associated with expressing, accounting for 31.5% variation of the model (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMultiple linear regression analyses of association of cognitive functions and decision-making abilities related to treatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"13\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppreciation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasoning\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpressing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB(95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarital status\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.03(-0.26,0.20)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.795\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.02\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07(-0.28,0.13)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.484\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.35(-0.70,-0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.049\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducational level\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.05(-0.16,0.06)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.338\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.17(-0.26,-0.07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.28(-0.45,-0.12)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.04(-0.09,0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.121\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of children\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.17(0.05,0.29)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.005\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.15(0.04,0.26)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVisuospatial and executive abilities\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.19(0.08,0.31)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.11(0.01,0.21)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.031\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.17(-0.01,0.34)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.058\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.00(-0.06,0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.940\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaming\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.06(-0.06,0.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.303\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.07(-0.04,0.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.210\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.13(-0.05,0.31)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.158\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.137\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08(0.02,0.14)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.005\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttention\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.27(0.19,0.35)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25(0.18,0.32)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.63(0.51,0.75)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.374\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.11(0.08,0.15)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLanguage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.52(0.39,0.65)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.26(0.14,0.38)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.64(0.43,0.84)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.212\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.11(0.05,0.18)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbstract thinking\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.07(-0.11,0.25)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.451\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.01(-0.15,0.17)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.938\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.18(-0.09,0.45)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.198\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.040\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.04(-0.12,0.05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.411\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelayed recall\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08(-0.06,0.23)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.263\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.09(-0.22,0.04)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.183\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.23(-0.45,-0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.041\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.073\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06(-0.13,0.01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.104\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrientation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.15(0.08,0.23)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.18(0.12,0.25)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.27(0.16,0.38)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.018\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.01(-0.03,0.04)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.748\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdjusted R\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.668\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.550\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.669\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.315\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eF\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.231\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56.384\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e103.256\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.207\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study elucidates the complex interplay between specific cognitive domains, and decision-making capacities to IADL and treatment in a cohort of older adults with cognitive impairment. These cognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models, underscoring their foundational role in communicating and processing information. Additionally, our findings reveal that attention and language abilities consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities (understanding, appreciation, reasoning, expressing) for both medication management and treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttention emerged as the strongest predictor across almost all domains of decision-making capacities, particularly for reasoning abilities where it accounted for up to 57% and 45% of the explained variance. This finding aligns with neurocognitive models positing that the frontal-parietal attentional network facilitates conflict resolution during complex medical choices \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The vital role of attentional processes in decision-making also evidence in the study by He et al. in the intertemporal choice \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Notably, the dominance of attention aligns with recent evidence that cognitive control capacity, a higher-order attentional function, serves as a core deficit predictive of broader cognitive decline \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The robust association between language proficiency and decision-making capacity highlights the verbal nature of conventional capacity assessments. The role of language in the information processing also supported by neuroimaging evidence, which confirms that non-native speakers exhibit reduced neural coupling in the right superior temporal gyrus under challenging auditory conditions, directly impairing information integration during medical consultations \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. This aligns with neurocognitive models positing that attention governs information integration, while language supports the articulation of choices and consequences\u0026mdash;both critical for informed consent \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur data revealing non-significant contributions from delayed recall challenge dementia screening paradigms centered on memory functions. This suggests that medical decision-making relies more critically on real-time information processing than long-term memory retrieval, a distinction with profound implications for assessment design. This reinforces our position that capacity assessments require paradigm shifts toward real-time processing metrics rather than retrospective memory measures when involving people with cognitive impairment into their own decision-making process. Abstract thinking also did not show significant association with decision-making capacities, while study found that abstract thinking was linked to decision-making problems in depression compared to concrete thinking \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. There is currently a lack of research on the specific roles of different thinking modes, such as abstract and concrete thinking, in the decision-making process of people with cognitive impairment. Future research should explore this area further.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVisuospatial and executive abilities was uniquely associated with understanding and appreciation in medication and treatment decisions, may due to their role in contextualizing visual health information (e.g., medication labels or treatment diagrams) \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. This association reflects the indispensable role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex -parietal network in constructing mental representations of intricate medical information. This network supports spatial working memory for manipulating dosage schedules (e.g., mentally simulating twice-daily administration) and cognitive flexibility for shifting between risk-benefit perspectives during appreciation processes, particularly critical for medication management where executive demands include sequencing temporal actions (e.g., coordinating drug-food interactions). Visuospatial and executive abilities was also associated with reasoning in medication management of decision-making capacities. The association between visuospatial and executive abilities and higher-order decision-making components (understanding, appreciation, reasoning) aligns with established literature on prefrontal cortex function in decision activities \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaming was linked to expressing choices, emphasizing that lexical access facilitates the communication of preferences \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Furthermore, naming ability, a proxy for semantic memory, extends beyond its established role in verbal expression via left inferior frontal gyrus -anterior temporal lobe lexical networks. Its significant association with appreciation and reasoning of medication decision-making capacities reveals deeper mechanisms. Anterior temporal lobe-derived conceptual knowledge enables value attribution (e.g., grasping that chemotherapy implies immunosuppression), while ventromedial prefrontal cortex integrates these semantic constructs to simulate treatment outcomes during reasoning.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrientation significantly contributed to understanding and appreciation in both decision contexts, reflecting its importance in situating health risks within personal timelines and spatial realities, a task compromised in early Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s pathology \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Orientation was also associated with reasoning of treatment decision-making capacities. Orientation demonstrated pervasive influence across decision-making components, underscoring the hippocampal-posterior cingulate cortex episodic buffer as the contextual anchor of medical decision-making. This system binds treatment options to self-referential spatiotemporal frameworks and enables prospective mental scenarios during reasoning (e.g., projecting how recovery timelines align with life events). Its broad explanatory power\u0026mdash;particularly for understanding, where accurate information encoding requires anchoring to personal context\u0026mdash;explains why orientation deficits in Alzheimer\u0026rsquo;s disease precipitate early decision-making impairment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducation inversely predicted appreciation and reasoning in medication decisions, suggesting that higher education may foster heuristic biases (e.g., overconfidence in prior knowledge), thereby attenuating careful evaluation of new medical information. This counterintuitive result mirrors findings that educated older adults with cognitive impairment exhibit delayed help-seeking due to underestimated symptom severity. Marital status influenced reasoning of treatment decision-making capacities, possibly reflecting spousal advocacy in healthcare settings, which may supplant independent decision practice and accelerate skill attrition in widowed/unmarried individuals. Number of children enhanced understanding and appreciation of treatment consequences, implicating social support networks in reinforcing insight into long-term health outcomes, a buffer particularly critical in low-education subgroups. Conversely, social connectivity factors, particularly having children, positively influenced treatment appreciation, suggesting that caregiving experience enhances medical reasoning through practical exposure to health advocacy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations. First, this study relied on cross-sectional data. Nevertheless, cognitive function and decision-making capacities change over time. Future study exploring the effects of longitudinal changes of cognitive functions on decision-making capacities could provide more robust evidence for the findings from this study. Second, cognitive functions were measured by classic questionnaire instruments, results may be influenced by participants\u0026rsquo; conditions. Future research could employ more objective and accurate strategies to measure cognitive function and cognitive reserve, such as biomarkers or neuroimaging. Emerging neurotechnologies like functional near-infrared spectroscopy showing promise for real-time monitoring of comprehension breakdowns during medical consultations by detecting attenuated neural coupling in language-processing regions may provide objective indicators for association of cognitive functions and decision-making activities in future study. Third, apart from cognitive functions, some other factors, such as depression, which may have effect on decision-making capacity, were not analyzed in current study. Four, this study was not equipped to explain the mechanisms underlying the correlation between domain-specific cognitive functions and decision-making capacity. More research is required to explore the mechanisms behind the relationship.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigated the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity of everyday activities and medical treatment. The cognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models. Attention and language were found as the neurocognitive pillars of decision-making in people with cognitive impairment. Based on this finding, attention and language deficits should trigger capacity assessments even when global memory is relatively preserved, a nuance missing in current guidelines. The absence of delayed recall warrants particular emphasis. While conventional dementia screens prioritize memory functions, the dissociation between decision-making requirements and conventional dementia screening targets underscores the urgent need for assessment realignment. Future work should develop interventions targeting attentional and linguistic bottlenecks to improve decision-making capacities of people with cognitive impairment. Our results support a hierarchical model where attention and language serve as gatekeepers for higher-order decision processes. When these domains falter, downstream abilities like reasoning collapse regardless of preserved memory or orientation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAdvance care planning\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eACP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMild cognitive impairment\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMCI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInstrumental activity of daily living\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIADL\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMoCA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eACED\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThe MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMacCAT-T\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStandard deviation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 76.8719%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVariance Inflation Factor\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 23.1281%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVIF\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproval for conducting this study was obtained from the ethical committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (2025NZY-12-01) and management levels of the involved nursing homes. Approval date was June 4, 2025. All participants gave written informed consent. If a participant was unable to understand the informed consent, consent was sought from their family members or caregivers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFunding\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (72304153), the Supporting Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (XPT72304153), and Postgraduate Research \u0026amp; Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX25_2385).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudy concept and design: X.W, Y.Y.Z.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcquisition of data: X.W, X.Y.Y, Y.T.H, H.L.Z, Y.X.H.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnalysis and interpretation of data: X.W, Y.T.H, Y.Y.Z.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrafting of the manuscript: X.W, Y.T.H, X.Y.Y.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCritical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: X.W, Y.Y.Z.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process. She is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended reviewers\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have three recommended reviewers: Zhaozhao HUI, Xi\u0026apos;an Jiaotong University, [email protected],Xianwen Li,Nanjing Medical University,[email protected],Yaping DING,Nanjing Medical University,[email protected].\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJia L, Du Y, Chu L, et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and management of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in adults aged 60 years or older in China: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Public Health 2020;5:e661–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30185-7\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ede Vries S, Verhoef MJ, Vervoort SCJM, et al. Barriers and facilitators that hospital clinicians perceive to discuss the personal values, wishes, and needs of patients in palliative care: a mixed-methods systematic review. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2023;17:26323524231212510. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231212510\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppelbaum PS. Assessment of Patients’ Competence to Consent to Treatment. N Engl J Med 2007;357:1834-40. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp074045\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoyle D, Sollins HL. Decisional Capacity — When and How to Determine. Caring for the Ages 2023;24:16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carage.2022.12.018\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLam LCM, Lui VWC, Chiu HFK, et al. Assessing mental capacity for everyday decision-making in the Chinese older population. Hong Kong Med J 2013; 19:17-20.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLui VWC, Lam LCW, Luk DNY, et al. Capacity to Make Treatment Decisions in Chinese Older Persons With Very Mild Dementia and Mild Alzheimer Disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2009;17:428–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e31819d3797\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBolt SR, van der Steen JT, Khemai C, et al. The perspectives of people with dementia on their future, end of life and on being cared for by others: A qualitative study. J Clin Nurs 2022;31:1738–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15644\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSong MK, Ward SE, Hepburn K, et al. Can Persons with Dementia Meaningfully Participate in Advance Care Planning Discussions? A Mixed-Methods Study of SPIRIT. J Palliat Med 2019;22:1410–6. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2019.0088.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHegde S, Ellajosyula R. Capacity issues and decision-making in dementia. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2016;19:S34–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.192890\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisser M, Smaling HJA, Parker D, van der Steen JT. How Do We Talk With People Living With Dementia About Future Care: A Scoping Review. Front Psychol 2022;13:849100. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.849100\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLui VWC, Lam LCW, Chau RCM, et al. Capacity to make decisions on medication management in Chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Int Psychogeriatr 2012;24:1103–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610212000129\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ede Souza NAP, de Oliveira F, de Carvalho RLS, Dourado MCN. The Relationship Between Decision-making Capacity and the Domains of Awareness in Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2022;36:58-63. https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000484\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParmigiani G, Del Casale A, Mandarelli G, et al. Decisional capacity to consent to treatment and research in patients affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Psychogeriatr 2022;34:529-42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220004056\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOkonkwo OC, Griffith HR, Copeland JN, et al. Medical decision-making capacity in mild cognitive impairment A 3-year longitudinal study. Neurology 2008;71:1474-80. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000334301.32358.48\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOkonkwo OC, Griffith HR, Belue K, et al. Cognitive models of medical decision-making capacity in patients with mild cognitive impairment. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2008;14:297–308. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617708080338\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFried TR, Cohen AB, Harris JE, Moreines L. Cognitively Impaired Older Persons’ and Caregivers’ Perspectives on Dementia-Specific Advance Care Planning. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021;69:932–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16953\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYu J, Li J, Huang X. The Beijing version of the montreal cognitive assessment as a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment: a community-based study. BMC Psychiatry 2012;12:156. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-156\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKlein-Flügge MC, Bongioanni A, Rushworth MFS. Medial and orbital frontal cortex in decision-making and flexible behavior. Neuron 2022;110:2743–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.022\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRajan A, Siegel SN, Liu Y, et al. Theta Oscillations Index Frontal Decision-Making and Mediate Reciprocal Frontal-Parietal Interactions in Willed Attention. Cereb Cortex 2019;29:2832–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.022\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe L, Wall D, Reeck C, Bhatia S. Information acquisition and decision strategies in intertemporal choice. Cogn Psychol 2023;142:101562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogpsych.2023.101562\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe H, Xu P, Wu T, et al. Reduced Capacity of Cognitive Control in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2019;71:185–200. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-181006\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLi Z, Hong B, Wang D, et al. Speaker–listener neural coupling reveals a right-lateralized mechanism for non-native speech-in-noise comprehension. Cereb Cortex 2023;33:3701–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac302\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSun F, Ni Y, Lu W, et al. Confidence bias prescribes the neurocomputational mechanism of decision-making. Cell Rep 2025;44:115563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115563\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDey S, Newell BR, Moulds ML. The relative effects of abstract versus concrete thinking on decision-making in depression. Behav Res Ther 2018;110:11–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.08.004\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-geriatrics","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bgtc","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Geriatrics](http://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/bgtc/default.aspx","title":"BMC Geriatrics","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"cognitive function, decision-making capacity, Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities, MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePopulation aging and rising cognitive impairment prevalence are global challenges for healthcare systems. We investigated the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity of everyday activities and medical treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCross-sectional data were collected from 457 older adults with cognitive impairment. Cognitive functions were assessed by The Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Chinese version of the Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision-making abilities and the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment were used to assess the decision-making capacity of medication management and treatment. Multiple linear regression was conducted to analyze the association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive domains accounted for 30.1%ཞ67.4% of the variance in decision-making capacities in multivariate models. Attention and language abilities consistently emerged as the strongest predictors across all four domains of decision-making capacities for both medication management and treatment. Visuospatial and executive abilities and orientation showed significant effect on understanding and appreciation in both decision context. Abstract thinking and delayed recall were non-significant in the models of both decision-making capacities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study provides insights into the association of two key factors (cognitive function and decision-making capacity) for involving people with cognitive impairment into decision-making for themselves to promote quality of long-term care.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eClinical trial number:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Association of domain-specific cognitive functions with decision-making capacity in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-08 16:37:22","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7443650/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-10-29T11:37:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-10-09T20:19:43+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"258080948875144733559772755879795026055","date":"2025-10-06T20:49:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-10-05T22:36:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"158588235279327779121150703173011808258","date":"2025-09-26T20:17:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-26T08:38:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-03T14:40:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-30T11:35:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-08-30T11:33:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Geriatrics","date":"2025-08-24T01:51:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-geriatrics","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bgtc","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Geriatrics](http://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/bgtc/default.aspx","title":"BMC Geriatrics","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b80c91f9-c739-49c4-9cd0-beb2bac3374d","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 8th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-07T16:16:08+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7443650","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07304-1","journal":{"identity":"bmc-geriatrics","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Geriatrics"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-01 16:00:09","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 1st, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-08 16:37:22","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12877-026-07304-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07304-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7443650","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7443650","identity":"rs-7443650","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below. Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy (via DOI) is the canonical version.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Ask this paper AI returns verbatim quotes from the full text · source: preprint-html

Answers must be backed by verbatim quotes from this paper's full text. Hallucinated quotes are dropped automatically; if no verbatim passage answers the question, we say so. How this works

Citation neighborhood (no data yet)

We don't have any in-corpus citations linked to this paper yet. This is a recent paper (2025) — citers typically take a year or two to land, and the OpenAlex reference graph may still be filling in.

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00