Association among 2-min step test, functional level and diagnosis of dementia

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Aerobic capacity declines significantly throughout life, beginning at the age of 30 years and accelerating from 60 years, where a decline of 17% per decade is expected thereafter. Objective: To investigate the association between aerobic capacity and a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD or moderate AD in older adults, considering the risk classification of functional loss of the Step test. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 93 patients (age >60 years) were evaluated (Healthy=36; MCI=18, AD=39). The step test was used to assess aerobic capacity, while overall cognitive status was measured using the MMSE. The groups were divided according to the risk classifications of functional loss into below or above the standard cut-off point for aerobic capacity. Results: Subjects in the functional loss risk group were approximately ten to fourteen times more likely to be diagnosed with mild (OR:10.7; p=0.001) or moderate (OR.=14.7; p=0.002) AD than their fitter counterparts. Low aerobic fitness was also associated with the MCI condition (OR=4.5; p=0.05), but only after controlling for educational level, age and sex. In the overall sample (N=93), there was an association between aerobic capacity and MMSE performance (R2=0.35; p<0.001) after controlling for confounding variables. Conclusion: low aerobic capacity was associated with cognitive decline, and older adults at risk of functional loss on the STEP test had greater chance of being diagnosed with MCI or AD after controlling for age, sex and education.

Floor Maze Test as a predictor of cognitive decline in older adults living in nursing homes

“…Indeed, Maseda et al 26 suggest that the institutionalization process could provide to the impairment of physical capacities. A decline in motor function among elderly people with dementia was also identified by Plácido et al 27 and de Oliveira Silva et al 28 .…”

Poor physical fitness is associated with impaired memory, executive function, and depression in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study

“…Brain connectivity and mental health have been associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. 23,24 Recently, Plá cido et al 10 found a strong association among cardiorespiratory fitness measured through the 2-minute step test, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The authors showed that people at risk of functional loss were most likely to be diagnosed with mild (OR = 10.7; p = 0.001) to moderate (OR = 14.7; p = 0.002) AD, whereas individuals with low aerobic fitness were 4.5 times more likely to present with MCI (p = 0.05).…”

“…8 Cognition and mood are directly and positively affected by physical capabilities. 7,9 Plá cido et al 10 recently found an association among cardiorespiratory fitness, functional status, and dementia. According to this study, older adults with poor aerobic resistance (below normative scores for age) have a 10-to 14-fold higher likelihood of developing mild and moderate dementia, respectively.…”

Spatial navigation and dual-task performance in patients with Dementia that present partial dependence in instrumental activity of daily living

“…Although there is a clear relationship between human movement and mental health, the use of motor assessment in clinical evaluation is still rare ( Deschamps, 2018 ). In neurocognitive disorders, gait parameters ( de Oliveira Silva et al, 2019a ), dual-task ( Ferreira et al, 2019 ), handgrip strength ( Teixeira et al, 2019 ), and spatial navigation ( Zanco et al, 2018 ) have been investigated to differentiate healthy older adults, MCI and AD, as well as different stages of Dementia ( de Oliveira Silva et al, 2019b ; Placido et al, 2019 ). However, our results showed a reduced ES magnitude in motor tests, compared to cognitive and cognitive-motor parameters for distinguishing groups according to functionality.…”