Table 1 Variables used to construct the indices by sex, in relation to mortality and dementia outcomes

How is your health these days? (1 = not too good to very poor; 0 = very good or pretty good)

2,819

44.1

7.4

75

70.7

4.0

4,222

32.7

9.2

107

61.7

4.7

How good is your eyesight? (1 = poor or unable to see; 0 = excellent, good, or fair)

2,776

43.9

7.3

125

64.0

8.0

3,996

31.7

8.8

339

53.1

11.8

How good is your hearing? (1 = poor or unable to hear; 0 = excellent, good, or fair)

2,750

44.4

7.1

152

51.3

12.5

4,153

32.5

9.1

183

54.6

9.3

Dentures fit to your satisfaction? (1 = no; 0 = yes)

2,551

44.5

7.3

345

46.7

8.1

3,741

32.4

9.2

581

40.1

8.1

Arthritis or rheumatism? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

1,543

44.0

7.3

1,355

45.5

7.5

1,591

31.2

9.3

2739

34.7

8.9

Eye trouble? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,259

41.4

7.4

640

56.6

7.2

2,861

29.3

8.1

1470

41.4

10.8

Ear trouble? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,021

41.8

6.7

880

51.7

8.9

3,245

31.0

8.7

1087

40.8

10.0

Trouble with your stomach? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,313

43.6

7.3

587

49.4

7.5

3,091

31.7

9.5

1241

37.8

8.0

Kidney trouble? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,633

43.4

7.7

266

58.3

4.5

3,823

32.0

9.3

506

44.5

7.7

Lose control of your bladder? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,669

43.5

7.5

226

60.2

6.2

3,524

31.6

9.3

804

41.4

8.3

Lose control of your bowels? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,810

44.3

7.3

89

57.3

9.0

4,114

32.8

9.1

216

44.9

7.9

Trouble with your feet or ankles? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,204

41.2

7.3

694

56.1

7.6

2,714

30.4

8.3

1613

38.7

10.4

Nose stuffed up or sneezing? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,453

43.6

7.1

446

51.3

9.0

3,607

32.7

8.8

724

37.2

10.4

Any fractures? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,787

44.6

7.4

109

50.5

7.3

4,027

32.9

9.1

299

40.5

9.0

Chest problems? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,345

41.2

7.8

555

59.8

5.8

3,660

31.4

9.5

671

44.6

6.4

Have you had a cough? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,541

43.0

7.6

359

57.1

5.8

3,798

32.8

9.1

534

38.2

8.8

Skin problems? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,356

44.6

7.1

539

45.8

8.3

3,541

32.8

8.9

790

36.1

9.9

Dental problems? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,335

43.9

7.3

555

49.0

7.7

3,483

33.1

9.2

839

34.8

8.7

Have you had any other problem? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,241

43.9

7.1

636

48.3

8.3

3,290

33.0

9.2

1025

34.9

8.3

High blood pressure? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,090

42.9

7.6

803

49.7

6.6

2,632

31.2

9.3

1694

37.0

8.7

Heart and circulation problems? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,034

39.1

7.5

864

58.0

7.1

3,008

28.4

9.4

1319

45.1

8.3

Stroke or effects of stroke? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,757

43.9

7.3

142

63.4

7.7

4,174

32.8

8.9

152

50.7

12.5

Diabetes? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,598

43.2

7.4

301

58.1

7.6

3,930

31.9

8.1

395

47.8

9.2

Do you live here alone? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,393

43.0

7.3

509

52.8

7.9

2,245

28.8

8.1

2092

38.4

10.1

Can you eat? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,890

44.6

7.4

11

90.9

0.0

4,317

33.3

9.0

18

72.2

16.7

Can you dress and undress yourself? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,848

44.1

7.3

52

78.8

13.5

4,284

33.1

9.1

52

61.5

3.8

Can you take care of your appearance? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,884

44.6

7.3

16

75.0

18.8

4,283

33.1

9.0

51

58.8

17.6

Can you walk? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,827

43.7

7.4

74

85.1

6.8

4,080

31.3

8.9

255

67.5

11.4

Can you get in and out of bed? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,879

44.6

7.4

22

72.7

9.1

4,298

33.2

9.0

37

54.1

18.9

Can you take a bath or shower? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,744

43.0

7.4

157

76.4

6.4

3,798

30.4

8.7

537

54.9

11.9

Can you go to the bathroom? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,878

44.6

7.3

21

76.2

14.3

4,287

33.3

9.1

48

43.8

8.3

Can you use the telephone? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,802

44.2

7.2

100

60.0

13.0

4,197

32.7

9.0

138

56.5

10.9

Can you get to place out of walking distance? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,795

43.4

7.3

107

79.4

9.3

3,787

29.7

8.8

546

59.2

10.8

Can you go shopping? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without help)

2,718

42.7

7.2

182

75.8

9.3

3,543

28.0

8.4

790

57.8

12.2

Can you prepare your own meals? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,677

43.2

7.2

223

63.7

8.5

4,063

31.4

8.7

269

63.2

14.9

Can you do your housework? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,370

39.9

7.0

527

66.6

8.9

2,868

25.3

7.7

1463

49.4

11.7

Can you take your own medicine? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,842

44.2

7.2

54

74.1

14.8

4,243

32.7

9.0

85

69.4

10.6

Can you handle your own money? (1 = can’t do at all or with some help; 0 = without any help)

2,830

44.1

7.3

72

72.2

8.3

4,153

32.3

8.8

180

60.0

15.0

Have you been feeling tired? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,546

42.3

7.6

353

62.0

5.9

3,502

30.9

8.8

828

44.2

10.4

How is language ability? (1 = with difficulties; 0 = fluent)

2,835

44.6

7.4

64

50.0

4.7

4,287

33.5

9.1

48

29.2

8.3

Trouble with your nerves? (1 = yes; 0 = no)

2,565

44.3

7.1

335

48.7

9.6

3,391

32.8

8.9

933

36.0

9.5

Troubles prevent normal activities? (1 = a little or a great deal; 0 = not at all)

1,500

34.7

7.5

1,398

55.4

7.2

2,074

24.7

9.1

2255

41.4

9.1