Measures of Cognitive Functioning in the 1994–2000 Second Longitudinal Study of Aging

Cognitive impairment (CI) is an important risk factor for loss of independence, institutionalization, and death in the older population (1–3). Studies of factors related to outcomes including mortality, difficulties with daily activities, institutionalization, and health care utilization would be incomplete without a covariate describing cognitive functioning.
LSOA II was designed to describe the health trajectories of a nationally representative sample of persons 70 years of age and older from 1994–2000. LSOA II contains a wealth of data about physical and social functioning.