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Physical frailty predicts future cognitive decline — A four-year prospective study in 2737 cognitively normal older adults

  • Physical Frailty Predicts Future Cognitive Declin
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

To examine the association between baseline frailty measurements and cognitive function 4 years later.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Two thousand seven hundred and thirty seven cognitively normal older adults.

Measurement

The appendicular muscle mass (ASM), hand grip strength, timed chair-stand test, walking speed and step length were measured at baseline. The Minimental state examination (MMSe) was administered at baseline and 4 years later.

Results

In men, all baseline frailty measurements, namely, being underweight, lower ASM, weaker grip strength, slower chair-stand test, shorter step length, slower timed walk were significantly associated with a lower MMSe score 4 years afterwards. After adjustment for age, years of education and baseline MMSe score, ASM and timed walk became insignificant. In women, all frailty measurements except underweight and low ASM were significantly associated with MMSe score 4 years later. Moreover, only weaker grip strength persisted to be significant after adjustment for age, years of education and baseline MMSe score.

Conclusion

Physical frailty, as represented by being underweight, weaker grip strength, slower chair-stand test, shorter step-length in men and weaker grip strength in women, was associated with cognitive decline over a four year period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. S.H. Ho Centre for Gerontology and Geriatric, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Pok Oi Hospital, Hong Kong, China

    T. W. Auyeung

  2. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    J. S. W. Lee, T. Kwok & J. Woo

Authors
  1. T. W. Auyeung
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  2. J. S. W. Lee
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  3. T. Kwok
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  4. J. Woo
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Correspondence to T. W. Auyeung.

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Auyeung, T.W., Lee, J.S.W., Kwok, T. et al. Physical frailty predicts future cognitive decline — A four-year prospective study in 2737 cognitively normal older adults. J Nutr Health Aging 15, 690–694 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0110-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0110-9

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