Mental and physical health of elderly people: five-year follow-up of a total population.

The change in mental and physical functioning over 5 years for 594 survivors of a community survey of the elderly is described. An increase in cognitive impairment, physical disability and incontinence over the period was found with increasing age. Women in the two oldest age groups had a significantly greater increase in physical disability than men. An annual incidence of cognitive impairment of 1.4% was found and the implications of this are discussed.